(bù néng) - cannot, must not (prohibition or incapacity) in Mandarin
bùnéngTraditional: 不能
HSK 1
#72 of 5,000 Core 1000
Translation
cannot, must not (prohibition or incapacity)
Word origin
A two-character expression: 不 'not' plus 能 'to be able' (originally a pictograph of a bear, later borrowed for 'ability'). Together 不能 means 'cannot' or 'must not'.
- Origin
- compound
- Root
- 不 (not) + 能 (able)
Stroke order
不
能
Examples
。
You cannot park here.
，。
My health has not been good recently; I cannot drink alcohol.
。
This matter cannot be told to others.
烟。
You cannot smoke here.
。
I cannot tell you the answer.
Used in
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