Chinese word

行不通

Pronunciation

Pinyinxíng bù tōng

Meaning

  • verbnot work

Example

这个办法行不通。zhè ge bàn fǎ xíng bù tōng

This method does not work.

Illustration for 行不通 (not work)

More examples

这招行不通，别再用了。zhè zhāo xíng bù tōng bié zài yòng le

This trick does not work; do not use it again.

Core concept

A solution is blocked before it can produce the needed outcome.

Common phrases

  • 这种办法行不通zhè zhǒng bàn fǎ xíng bù tōng

    this method does not work

  • 这招行不通zhè zhāo xíng bù tōng

    this trick does not work

  • 这样做行不通zhè yàng zuò xíng bù tōng

    doing it this way does not work

Similar words

不行bù xíng: Says that trying something or asking for something will not succeed.
不管用bù guǎn yòng: Says that a method or message has no effect.
没用méi yòng: Says that something is useless for the purpose at hand.

Definition in Chinese

指某个办法、措施不能奏效或无法达到预期目的，通常用来评价解决问题的方法。zhǐ mǒu gè bàn fǎ cuò shī bù néng zòu xiào huò wú fǎ dá dào yù qī mù dì tōng cháng yòng lái píng jià jiě jué wèn tí de fāng fǎ

Word origin

行不通 (xíngbùtōng, "not work") joins 行 (xíng, "go") and 通 (tōng, "pass through") under the negation 不 (bù, "not"), forming the idea that a practical approach cannot get through to success.

Usage tips

  • English "not work" can describe a malfunctioning machine, but this word most naturally evaluates a proposed solution or method.

Other meanings

  • not applyverb
  • not get throughverb
  • not be usableverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word