Verb + 得/不得 for “Can” and “Must Not”
Verb + 不得 means something must not or should not be done (急不得, 关不得), and verb + 得 says it is fine to do.
Structure
verb + 不得 (must not / should not) ｜ verb + 得 (it’s fine to)
Put 不得 right after a verb to say that the action must not or should not be done, because it is unwise or not allowed: 急不得 “can’t be rushed.” Verb + 得 means the action is fine, and mostly appears in questions and answers.
学语言急不得，要慢慢来。
When to use Verb + 得/不得 for “Can” and “Must Not”
Verb + 不得 usually does not talk about ability. It says an action is not allowed or not wise: 学语言急不得 (you can’t rush it), 这件事马虎不得 (you mustn’t be careless), 电脑正在更新，现在关不得 (don’t turn it off now). Verb + 得 is the positive form, “it’s all right to,” and usually appears in a question like 走得走不得？ and its answer.
这件事马虎不得，你一定要认真检查。
You mustn’t be careless about this; be sure to check it carefully.
电脑正在更新，现在关不得。
The computer is updating, so don’t turn it off now.
这个玩笑开不得，他会不高兴的。
You mustn’t make that joke; he’ll be upset.
刚刷好的门，现在还碰不得。
The door has just been painted, so don’t touch it yet.
Pièges courants
- In warnings like 急不得 and 去不得, verb + 不得 means “must not, shouldn’t,” not “unable to”; for ability use verb + 不了 or 不能.
- In this pattern 得 is pronounced dé (不得 bù dé), not the neutral de of 跑得快.
- Verb + 得 on its own is rare; it mainly answers a question like 去得去不得？
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