不能

bù néng

cannot

我不能去。

I can't go.

general

To be unable to do something; to lack the ability or permission to do something

他不能游泳。

He can't swim.

你不能这样做。

You can't do that.

Often used to express inability, prohibition, or impossibility.

Collocations

不能忍受cannot bear不能自拔cannot extricate oneself不能自已cannot help oneself

to be unable to extricate oneself (from a situation)

to be unable to control oneself

'不能' is a versatile word that can be used to express inability, prohibition, or impossibility. It is often used in negative sentences.

'不能' is a negative word and is often used with other negative words to form double negatives, which can be confusing for learners.

Combination of 不 (bù, 'not') and 能 (néng, 'can'), forming a negation of ability or possibility.

In formal contexts, '不能' is often used to express prohibition or impossibility. In informal contexts, it can also express inability.

不

not

prefix

能

can

root

汉英词典