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不行 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
不行bùxíngwon't doHSK 3, unknown, 10 strokes, rank #611, Medium
不行bùxíngbe out of the questionHSK 3, unknown, 10 strokes, rank #611, Medium
不行bùxíngbe no goodHSK 3, unknown, 10 strokes, rank #611, Medium
不行bùxíngnot workHSK 3, unknown, 10 strokes, rank #611, Medium
不行bùxíngnot be capableHSK 3, unknown, 10 strokes, rank #611, Medium
bùxíng(bu4xing2)bu xing T4
  1. 1won't do
  2. 2be out of the question
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March 24, 2026

不行bùxíng(bu4xing2)

不行 (bù xíng) means 'won't do' or 'not acceptable.' It is commonly used to express that something is not feasible or that a suggestion is not suitable. This phrase can also indicate a lack of capability or ability in a certain context.

Strokes10Frequency#611DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, being capable and efficient is highly valued, and using 不行 can convey seriousness about one's limitations or the seriousness of a situation. It's often employed in discussions about work efficiency or personal abilities.

Memory Tip

Think of 不 (bù) as a big 'no' sign, and 行 (xíng) as a person walking confidently. Together, they create an image of someone who cannot walk forward or proceed—hence, 'won't do.'

Meanings of 不行

bùxíng(bu4xing2)
1won't do
2be out of the question
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About 不行

不行Simplified
10Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL2YCTL3HSKKL1BCT✓CEFRA1

Podcast: 不行

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Podcast: 不行

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AI Study Notes for 不行

Quick Contrast

不可行 (bù kě xíng): use 不行 when referring to something that is not feasible; use 不可行 for a more formal or written context.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 不行 with 可以 (kě yǐ), which means 'can' or 'may,' leading to incorrect contexts. It's commonly used in informal conversations, so avoid using it in overly formal settings. Remember to use it in negative constructions; for example, 不行的 (bù xíng de) means 'not acceptable.'

HSK Study Tips

Although 不行 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it connects to the HSK 1 level where learners encounter basic negation (不). Focus on using it in simple sentences to express inability or refusal.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes use 不行 incorrectly in affirmative sentences, saying things like '这不行' (zhè bù xíng) without context. Instead, it should be used to indicate that something is not acceptable or cannot be done.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 不行

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Component Characters

不bù(negative prefix)
HSK 14 strokes一
View full entry
行xíngto walk
HSK 36 strokes行
View full entry

How to say won't do in Chinese

“won't do” in Chinese is不行bùxíng

不行 (bù xíng) means 'won't do' or 'not acceptable.' It is commonly used to express that something is not feasible or that a suggestion is not suitable. This phrase can also indicate a lack of capability or ability in a certain context.

When to use 不行

Learners often confuse 不行 with 可以 (kě yǐ), which means 'can' or 'may,' leading to incorrect contexts. It's commonly used in informal conversations, so avoid using it in overly formal settings. Remember to use it in negative constructions; for example, 不行的 (bù xíng de) means 'not acceptable.'

不行 or something close to it

不可行 (bù kě xíng): use 不行 when referring to something that is not feasible; use 不可行 for a more formal or written context.

What learners get wrong

Learners sometimes use 不行 incorrectly in affirmative sentences, saying things like '这不行' (zhè bù xíng) without context. Instead, it should be used to indicate that something is not acceptable or cannot be done.

Write 不行

不
行

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Frequently Asked Questions about 不行

Yes, it is commonly used to express that a proposal or suggestion is unacceptable.

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