Chinese–EnglishWith examples

不能

bù néng · bu neng

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. cannot
  2. must not
  3. should not
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In a conversation

0:22 cartoon

No feeding the ducks

  1. Liangliang

    我(wǒ)带(dài)了(le)面包(miànbāo)，想(xiǎng)喂(wèi)鸭子(yāzi)。

    I brought bread. I want to feed the ducks.

  2. Dengdeng

    等(děng)一下(yīxià)，牌子(páizi)上(shàng)写(xiě)着(zhe)：不能(bùnéng)喂(wèi)鸭子(yāzi)。

    Wait. The sign says: no feeding the ducks.

  3. Liangliang

    为什么(wèishénme)不能(bùnéng)喂(wèi)？

    Why can't we feed them?

  4. Dengdeng

    吃(chī)太(tài)多(duō)面包(miànbāo)，它们(tāmen)就(jiù)不会(bùhuì)自己(zìjǐ)找(zhǎo)吃的(chīde)了(le)。

    If they eat too much bread, they stop finding food themselves.

  5. Liangliang

    那(nà)我(wǒ)不能(bùnéng)喂(wèi)鸭子(yāzi)，鸭子(yāzi)能(néng)喂(wèi)我(wǒ)吗(ma)？

    So I can't feed the ducks. Can the ducks feed me?

  6. Dengdeng

    鸭子(yāzi)不能(bùnéng)，但(dàn)我(wǒ)能(néng)。给(gěi)我(wǒ)一块(yīkuài)！

    The ducks can't, but I can. Give me a piece!

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In a sentence

2 examples
01

这(zhè)个(ge)问(wèn)题(tí)不(bù)能(néng)以(yǐ)常(cháng)规(guī)方(fāng)法(fǎ)解(jiě)决(jué)。

You cannot solve this problem with the usual method.

Tatoeba: Chinese by fucongcong · English by omfgitsasalmon · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

02

图(tú)书(shū)馆(guǎn)里(lǐ)不(bù)能(néng)大(dà)声(shēng)说(shuō)话(huà)。

You must not speak loudly in the library.

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

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