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不耐烦 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
不耐烦
búnàifán
impatience
HSK 6, a, 23 strokes, rank #13195, Hard
不耐烦
búnàifán
impatient
HSK 6, a, 23 strokes, rank #13195, Hard
búnàifán(bu2nai4fan2)bu nai fan T4
1impatience
2impatient
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March 24, 2026
不耐烦(不耐煩)búnàifán(bu2nai4fan2)
不耐烦 (bù nài fán) refers to a state of impatience or being easily annoyed due to delays or inconveniences. It is commonly used in contexts where someone is frustrated with waiting or when things are not proceeding as expected, conveying a sense of urgency and irritation.
Strokes23Frequency#13195DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, patience is highly valued, often seen as a virtue, which may make expressions of 不耐烦 more significant in social interactions, as they can imply disrespect or a lack of self-control.
Memory tip
Imagine a person waiting for a bus that is late. As time passes, their expression becomes more and more frustrated, symbolizing 不耐烦. The first character 不 means ‘not,’ while 耐 suggests endurance, and 烦 relates to annoyance, together illustrating the inability to endure waiting calmly.
Meanings of 不耐烦
búnàifán(bu2nai4fan2)
1impatience
2impatient
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 不耐烦
不耐烦Simplified
不耐煩Traditional
23Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#13195Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L6IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 不耐烦
Podcast: 不耐烦
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AI study notes for 不耐烦
Quick Contrast
急躁 (jízào) - use 不耐烦 (bù nài fán) for impatience specifically related to waiting, while 急躁 (jízào) conveys a more general sense of irritability.
Usage Notes
Be mindful of using 不耐烦 in both formal and informal contexts; it may sound too blunt in professional settings. Common collocations include '对…不耐烦' (impatient with…). Note that using the wrong tone, such as pronouncing 不 (bù) with the second tone, can change the meaning.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 不耐烦 connects with other emotions or states of being. Students should focus on the context in which it is used, as it often pairs with verbs indicating actions that provoke impatience, enhancing vocabulary related to feelings.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 不耐烦 with other expressions of annoyance. For instance, saying '我觉得不耐烦' (I feel impatient) is incorrect; the correct way is '我感到不耐烦'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 不耐烦
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不耐烦 (bù nài fán) refers to a state of impatience or being easily annoyed due to delays or inconveniences. It is commonly used in contexts where someone is frustrated with waiting or when things are not proceeding as expected, conveying a sense of urgency and irritation.
When to use 不耐烦
Be mindful of using 不耐烦 in both formal and informal contexts; it may sound too blunt in professional settings. Common collocations include '对…不耐烦' (impatient with…). Note that using the wrong tone, such as pronouncing 不 (bù) with the second tone, can change the meaning.
不耐烦 or something close to it
急躁 (jízào) - use 不耐烦 (bù nài fán) for impatience specifically related to waiting, while 急躁 (jízào) conveys a more general sense of irritability.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 不耐烦 with other expressions of annoyance. For instance, saying '我觉得不耐烦' (I feel impatient) is incorrect; the correct way is '我感到不耐烦'.
Write 不耐烦
不
耐
烦
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Grammar patterns of 不耐烦
不耐烦 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 5
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
“我告诉过你普雷斯克毫不知情的，”肯普颇为____地说道。
"I told you Preskel had no idea," remarked Kemp with some asperity.
