不能

bù néng

Very common

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Definitions

1. cannot
2. must not
3. should not

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Example Sentences

5 shown

我 不能 袖手旁观。

I cannot just stand by and do nothing.

你 不能 守株待兔，要主动找工作。

You can't just wait idly for opportunities; you need to actively look for a job.

我们 不能 犯教条主义的错误。

We must not make the mistake of dogmatism.

我们 不能 做损人利己的事。

We must not do things that harm others to benefit ourselves.

你 不能 抹杀事实。

You cannot obliterate the facts.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Words Containing 不能

• 不能不 不能不 bù néng bù: have to
• 不以规矩，不能成方圆 不以规矩，不能成方圆 bù yǐ guī ju , bù néng chéng fāng yuán: without rules, nothing can be done (idiom, from Mencius); one must follow some rules
• 不能抵抗 不能抵抗 bù néng dǐ kàng: irresistible
• 不能自已 不能自已 bù néng zì yǐ: unable to control oneself
• 富贵不能淫 富贵不能淫 fù guì bù néng yín: not corrupted by wealth and honors
• 巴不能够 巴不能够 bā bù néng gòu: avid
• 恨不能 恨不能 hèn bu néng: see 恨不得[hèn bu de]
• 书写不能症 书写不能症 shū xiě bù néng zhèng: agraphia
• 欲罢不能 欲罢不能 yù bà bù néng: want to stop but can't (idiom)
• 无所不能 无所不能 wú suǒ bù néng: omnipotent
• 认识不能 认识不能 rèn shi bù néng: agnosia
• 贫贱不能移 贫贱不能移 pín jiàn bù néng yí: not shaken by poverty
• 金钱不能买来幸福 金钱不能买来幸福 jīn qián bù néng mǎi lái xìng fú: money can't buy happiness
• 钱不是万能的，没钱是万万不能的 钱不是万能的，没钱是万万不能的 qián bù shì wàn néng de , méi qián shì wàn wàn bù néng de: money isn't everything, but without money you can do nothing (idiom)
• 静坐不能 静坐不能 jìng zuò bù néng: akathisia (condition of restlessness, a side-effect of neuroleptic antipsychotic drug)

Child Words of 不能

• 不 不 bù: no; not so
• 能 能 néng: can