大不了

dà bù liǎo

HSK 2.0 Level 6 HSK 3.0 Level 7 Adjective Common

Definitions

1. at worst; if worst comes to worst
2. (usu. in the negative) serious; alarming

Word relationships

Related words

1 item

• 了不起 liǎo bu qǐ 了不起 liǎo bu qǐ amazing Used in negative sentences to mean 'serious'.: amazing

Usage notes

Collocations

In negative patterns like 没什么大不了的, it means 'nothing serious'. Note the 的 at the end.

Common mistakes

大不了 in the 'at worst' sense is used to indicate that the worst outcome is still acceptable; do not use it to simply mean 'maximum'.

Example Sentences

1 shown

大不了 罚点钱，没什么可担心的。

At worst, we'll get a fine; there's nothing to worry about.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Child Words of 大不了

• 不 不 bù: no; not so
• 了 了 le: (completed action marker)
• 大 大 dà: big; large; great
• 大 大 dài: see 大夫[dài fu]
• 了 了 liǎo: (of eyes) bright
• 不了 不了 bù le: no thanks (used to politely but informally decline)