不敢

bù gǎn

What does "不敢" mean in English?

to dare not

我不敢告诉他真相。

I dare not tell him the truth.

How to use "不敢" correctly: definitions and examples in English?

informal

To lack the courage or confidence to do something; to be too afraid to do something.

她不敢在公众面前演讲。

She doesn't dare to speak in public.

他不敢承认自己的错误。

He doesn't dare to admit his mistakes.

This phrase is commonly used to express hesitation or fear in taking action.

Collocations

不敢说not dare to say不敢相信can't believe不敢当not worthy of

not worthy of (used to express humility)

Pro Tip

Politeness

This phrase is often used to show respect or modesty, especially when declining an offer or admitting a mistake.

Gold Rule

Context

Use '不敢' to express hesitation or fear, not just to say 'no'.

Word Origin

Combination of 不 (not) and 敢 (dare), forming a negative verb phrase.

Usage Notes

Often used to express humility or modesty, especially in formal or polite contexts.

Word Breakdown

不

not

prefix

敢

dare

root

汉英词典

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不敢