Chinese word

不能

Pronunciation

Pinyinbù néng

Meaning

  • auxiliary verbcannot

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.

Illustration for 不能 (cannot)

More examples

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.

Core concept

Marks an action as blocked by a limit, whether the limit comes from ability, conditions, possibility, or permission.

Common phrases

  • 不能吸烟bù néng xī yān

    must not smoke

  • 不能进来bù néng jìn lái

    must not come in

  • 不能带手机bù néng dài shǒu jī

    must not bring a cell phone

Similar words

能néng: Marks an action as possible when the ability or conditions for it are present.
会huì: Expresses a learned skill or habit that makes an action possible.
不会bú huì: Expresses inability caused by not knowing how to perform an action.
没法méi fǎ: Expresses that an action is impossible because no method or means is available.

Definition in Chinese

表示主语没有能力、条件或可能性去做某事，无法完成某个动作或达到某个结果。biǎo shì zhú yǔ méi yǒu néng lì tiáo jiàn huò kě néng xìng qù zuò mǒu shì wú fǎ wán chéng mǒu gè dòng zuò huò dá dào mǒu gè jié guǒ

Word origin

不能 (bùnéng, "cannot") is formed from 不 (bù, "not") and 能 (néng, "be able to"), turning the idea of being able to do something into its negative.

Usage tips

  • 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.

Other meanings

  • must notauxiliary verb
  • impossibleadjective

Opposites

Word lists with this word