Chinese–EnglishWith examples

何不

hé bù · he bu

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. why not?
  2. why not do (sth)?
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In a conversation

0:19 cartoon

Where to go this weekend

  1. Dengdeng

    周末(zhōumò)去(qù)哪儿(nǎr)玩(wán)好(hǎo)呢(ne)？

    Where should we go this weekend?

  2. Liangliang

    何不(hébù)去(qù)爬山(páshān)？

    Why not go hiking?

  3. Dengdeng

    亮亮(liàngliàng)，你(nǐ)今天(jīntiān)怎么(zěnme)像(xiàng)古书(gǔshū)一样(yīyàng)说话(shuōhuà)？

    Liangliang, why are you talking like an old book today?

  4. Liangliang

    我(wǒ)刚(gāng)看完(kànwán)一本(yīběn)老书(lǎoshū)，你(nǐ)何不(hébù)也(yě)看看(kànkan)？

    I just finished an old book. Why don't you read it too?

  5. Dengdeng

    好吧(hǎoba)，那(nà)你(nǐ)何不(hébù)先(xiān)请(qǐng)我(wǒ)吃(chī)早饭(zǎofàn)？

    OK. Then why not treat me to breakfast first?

  6. Liangliang

    你(nǐ)何不(hébù)自己(zìjǐ)买(mǎi)？

    Why don't you buy it yourself?

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In a sentence

2 examples
01

比(bǐ)起(qǐ)少(shǎo)抽(chōu)菸(yān)，你(nǐ)何(hé)不(bù)直(zhí)接(jiē)把(bǎ)菸(yān)戒(jiè)了(le)？

Rather than cutting down on cigarettes, why don't you just give them up?

Tatoeba: Chinese by egg0073 · English by CK · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

02

何(hé)不(bú)送(sòng)给(gěi)她(tā)一(yì)些(xiē)花(huā)?

Why don't you give her some flowers?

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

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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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