Chinese phrases
How to say no way in Chinese
No way in Chinese is 不可能 (bù kě néng), “impossible,” when you can’t believe something. To refuse a request, friends say 没门 (méi mén).
不可能
no way; impossible
可 has the third tone, so 不 keeps its fourth tone: bù kě néng.
Ways to say no way
不可能
Everydayno way; impossible
You don’t believe what you hear, or you are sure something can’t happen.
不会吧
Everydayno way, really?
Surprise at news you half believe: your favourite restaurant closed, a friend is moving away.
真的假的
With friendsseriously?
Literally “real or fake?” A very common reaction to surprising news.
怎么可能
Everydayhow could that be?
Stronger disbelief, often a little indignant: someone says you forgot their birthday.
没门
With friendsno way (I won’t)
A flat, joking refusal. Asked “Can I have your last dumpling?”, a friend says 没门. In the north it is often 没门儿.
想得美
With friendsdream on
Teasing: the other person wants something they won’t get. Only with people you are close to.
绝对不行
Everydayabsolutely not
A serious refusal, for example from a parent or a manager.
Common mistakes
Translating “no way” word for word
没有路 means “there is no road.” For disbelief, say 不可能 or 不会吧. To refuse, say 不行.
Hearing 不会吧 as “won’t”
不会 usually means “won’t” or “can’t.” In 不会吧 it means “surely not,” a reaction to news.
Using 没门 with people you don’t know well
没门 and 想得美 are playful between friends. To a colleague or a stranger they sound rude. Say 不好意思，不行.
Three bowls
亮亮一个人吃了三碗面。
Qiqi: Liangliang ate three bowls of noodles by himself.
不可能！
Leon: No way!
真的，我看见了。
Qiqi: It’s true, I saw it.
不会吧，他早上还说在减肥呢。
Leon: Seriously? This morning he said he was on a diet.
