HSK · Level 62
105 words
Chinese word
谈不上
Pronunciation
Pinyintán bù shàng
Meaning
- verbcannot really be called
Example
这个结果谈不上令人满意。zhè ge jié guǒ tán bú shàng lìng rén mǎn yì
This result cannot really be called satisfactory.
More examples
这件事的影响谈不上很大。zhè jiàn shì de yíng xiǎng tán bú shàng hěn dà
The impact of this matter cannot really be called very large.
Core concept
A judgment stops below the threshold needed to give something a particular name.
Common phrases
谈不上大问题tán bú shàng dà wèn tí
cannot really be called a major problem
谈不上完全正确tán bú shàng wán quán zhèng què
cannot really be called entirely correct
谈不上进步tán bú shàng jìn bù
cannot really be called an improvement
Similar words
算不上suàn bú shàng: Fails to meet the standard required for a certain description or category.
不算bú suàn: Is not considered to belong to a stated group or type.
不见得bú jiàn de: Leaves open the possibility that a claim or impression is untrue.
不至于bú zhì yú: Does not go as far as an extreme level or outcome.
Definition in Chinese
用来说明某事物未达到可称为某种状态的标准，语气比直接否定更委婉，常作为回答或评论时的缓和表达。yòng lái shuō míng mǒu shì wù wèi dá dào kě chēng wéi móu zhǒng zhuàng tài de biāo zhǔn yǔ qì bǐ zhí jiē fǒu dìng gèng wéi wǎn cháng zuò wéi huí dá huò píng lùn shí de huǎn hé biǎo dá
Word origin
谈 (tán, "speak of") + 不 (bù, "not") + 上 (shàng, "reach") frames a quality as not reaching the level needed for a particular description.
Usage tips
- English speakers may expect a direct yes-or-no judgment, but this expression leaves room for a middle position and is useful when an assessment is partly favorable but still falls short.