Chinese word

不方便

Pronunciation

Pinyinbù fāng biàn

Meaning

  • adjectiveinconvenient

Example

今天出门带孩子很不方便。jīn tiān chū mén dài hái zi hěn bù fāng biàn

It is very inconvenient to go out with a child today.

Illustration for 不方便 (inconvenient)

More examples

现在坐公交不方便，我想打车。xiàn zài zuò gōng jiāo bù fāng biàn wǒ xiǎng dǎ chē

Taking the bus is inconvenient now, so I want to take a taxi.

Core concept

A situation gets in the way of using, doing, or arranging something as intended.

Common phrases

  • 很不方便hěn bù fāng biàn

    very inconvenient

  • 去银行很不方便qù yín háng hěn bù fāng biàn

    very inconvenient to go to the bank

  • 对我来说很不方便duì wǒ lái shuō hěn bù fāng biàn

    very inconvenient for me

Similar words

不便bú biàn: Describes conditions that make using, reaching, or doing something less convenient.
不好意思bù hǎo yì si: Describes feeling embarrassed or reluctant to make a request or talk about something.
麻烦má fán: Describes something that causes extra work or difficulty for oneself or another person.
不合适bù hé shì: Describes something that is not suitable for a particular situation or purpose.

Definition in Chinese

不方便 表示在时间、地点或场合上不合适或不便于处理某事，难以按原计划进行。bù fāng biàn biǎo shì zài shí jiān dì diǎn huò chǎng hé shàng bù hé shì huò bú biàn yú chú lǐ mǒu shì nán yǐ àn yuán jì huà jìn xíng

Word origin

不 (bù, "not") negates 方便 (fāngbiàn, "convenient"), so the compound describes circumstances that do not offer an easy or suitable way to act.

Usage tips

  • A reply using this word often leaves room for a later time, making it a softer way to decline an immediate request than a direct refusal.

Other meanings

  • hard to useadjective

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word