了不起
HSK 6- Emphasis
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
了不起 is an adjective used to praise someone or something as truly extraordinary, highly capable, and worthy of admiration.
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
You use 了不起 when you want to express admiration or awe toward a person or an achievement. It carries the meaning of "remarkable," "capable," or "impressive." It is a very strong compliment.
Sometimes it is also used in rhetorical questions or to belittle something, for example 有什么了不起的？ (What's so great about it?).
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 你一个人做完，真了不起！繁: 你一個人做完，真了不起！Nǐ yí ge rén zuò wán, zhēn liǎobuqǐ!
You completed it all by yourself, that's really impressive!
- 他是一位了不起的医生。繁: 他是一位了不起的醫生。Tā shì yí wèi liǎobuqǐ de yīshēng.
He is an outstanding doctor.
- 我觉得我的妈妈最了不起。繁: 我覺得我的媽媽最了不起。Wǒ juéde wǒ de māma zuì liǎobuqǐ.
I think my mom is the most amazing person.
- 这没什么了不起的。繁: 這沒什麼了不起的。Zhè méi shénme liǎobuqǐ de.
This is nothing remarkable.
- 他取得了了不起的成就。Tā qǔdé le liǎobuqǐ de chéngjiù.
He achieved remarkable accomplishments.
Common mistakes
- Wrong:这个菜了不起。Correct:这个菜很好吃。
了不起 is used for extraordinary or admirable things. To praise a dish, use 好吃 (delicious) or 不错 (quite good) instead.
- Wrong:他不了不起。Correct:他没什么了不起的。
The negative form commonly uses the structure `没什么了不起的` to express the meaning "nothing remarkable" or "nothing to be impressed about."