(bù qǐ) - cannot afford, unable to (verb complement) in Mandarin
bùqǐTraditional: 不起
Translation
cannot afford, unable to (verb complement)
Word origin
A compound of 不 (bù, not) and 起 (qǐ, to rise or manage), forming a potential complement that conveys being unable to do something, as in 买不起 (cannot afford) and 对不起 (sorry).
- Origin
- compound
- Root
- 不 (bù, not) + 起 (qǐ, to rise, to manage)
Stroke order
不
起
Examples
辆。
I cannot afford this car.
，。
Sorry, I am late.
。
He is remarkable.
，。
It is so expensive that I cannot pay for it.
。
You should not look down on others.
不起 (bù qǐ) means cannot afford or be unable to, used as a verb complement. It attaches to verbs in set patterns like 买不起 and 对不起.
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不起: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the Mandarin word "不起" (cannot afford, unable to (verb complement)): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 22.