Chinese Conversation · Level 18
90 words
Chinese word
不行
Pronunciation
Pinyinbù xíng
Meaning
- adjectivenot work
Example
这个办法不行，我们再想想。zhè ge bàn fǎ bù xíng wǒ men zài xiáng xiǎng
This method won't work; let's think again.
More examples
开车喝酒不行。kāi chē hē jiǔ bù xíng
Drinking alcohol while driving is not allowed.
Core concept
A road closed to an idea: it cannot move forward or receive approval.
Common phrases
开车不行kāi chē bù xíng
no driving
这个办法不行zhè ge bàn fǎ bù xíng
this method won't work
Similar words
不可以bù ké yǐ: Says that an action is not allowed because it lacks approval.
不能bù néng: Says that someone cannot do something because ability or conditions are lacking.
没用méi yòng: Says that something cannot help or produce a useful result.
Definition in Chinese
用于否定某个办法、计划或请求的可行性或被接受性，口语中常用来表示“这个不行”“不可”的判断。yòng yú fǒu dìng mǒu gè bàn fǎ jì huà huò qǐng qiú de kě xíng xìng huò bèi jiē shòu xìng kóu yǔ zhōng cháng yòng lái biǎo shì zhè ge bù xíng bù kě de pàn duàn
Word origin
不行 (bùxíng, "not work") is formed from 不 (bù, "not") and 行 (xíng, "go"), so a thing that cannot go forward comes to mean one that fails or does not pass.
Usage tips
- The same short reply can mark a practical problem or a firm refusal, so the surrounding topic shows which kind of negative answer it gives.
Other meanings
- impossibleadjective
- unacceptableadjective
Opposites
- 可行kě xíngworkableadjective