English–Chinese
“cannot” in Chinese
Chinese
Pronunciation
Pinyinbù néng
Example
我不能参加明天的会议。wǒ bù néng cān jiā míng tiān de huì yì
I cannot attend tomorrow's meeting.
How to say “cannot” in Chinese
“Cannot” in Chinese is 不能 (bù néng).
Marks an action as blocked by a limit, whether the limit comes from ability, conditions, possibility, or permission.
Example sentences with 不能
考试期间不能使用手机。kǎo shì qī jiān bù néng shǐ yòng shǒu jī
You must not use a cell phone during the exam.
Tips for using 不能
- In a school rule, this word can mean that an action is forbidden even when everyone has the skill to do it, which differs from the usual English sense of lacking ability.