受不了
HSK 4- Complements
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
Used to express the feeling of being unable to tolerate a person, event, or situation.
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
受不了 (shòu bu liǎo) is a fixed phrase meaning "cannot stand it" or "cannot bear it." You can use it to complain about a person, situation, sound, smell, or anything that makes you so uncomfortable that you can no longer endure it. This phrase expresses a fairly strong emotion, usually negative.
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 今天太热了，我受不了。繁: 今天太熱了，我受不了。Jīntiān tài rè le, wǒ shòu bu liǎo.
Today is too hot, I can't bear it.
- 他说话太大声，我受不了。繁: 他說話太大聲，我受不了。Tā shuōhuà tài dà shēng, wǒ shòu bu liǎo.
He speaks too loudly, I can't stand it.
- 我受不了他总是迟到。繁: 我受不了他總是遲到。Wǒ shòu bu liǎo tā zǒngshì chídào.
I can't stand that he's always late.
- 这个菜太辣了，我受不了。繁: 這個菜太辣了，我受不了。Zhège cài tài là le, wǒ shòu bu liǎo.
This dish is too spicy, I can't handle it.
- 每天都加班，我真的受不了了。Měitiān dōu jiābān, wǒ zhēn de shòu bu liǎo le.
Every day I have to work overtime, I really can't take it anymore.
Common mistakes
- Wrong:我不受。Correct:我受不了。
受不了 is a fixed phrase that cannot be separated or have any character omitted; the character 不 is already inherent in the structure.
- Wrong:这个作业太难，我受不了。Correct:这个作业太难，我做不了。
受不了 means "cannot bear/endure" (emotionally or physically), while 做不了 is used for "cannot do" (due to difficulty or lack of ability).