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March 24, 2026
不堪bùkān(bu4kan1)
不堪 (bù kān) means 'cannot bear' or 'cannot stand', often used to express an extreme reaction to something unpleasant or intolerable. It is commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese to convey feelings of discomfort or distress, especially in formal contexts.
Strokes16Frequency#9585DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
不堪 can often be found in discussions about social issues or historical events in China, where individuals express their inability to tolerate hardship or injustice, reflecting the resilience and struggles of the Chinese people.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person (represented by the character '不', meaning 'not') trying to carry a heavy load (the character '堪', which visually resembles a person struggling with the weight). The phrase 'cannot bear' is like saying the burden is too much to handle, making '不堪' a vivid reminder of what is unbearable.
Meanings of 不堪
bùkān(bu4kan1)
1cannot bear
2cannot stand
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About 不堪
不堪Simplified
16Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#9585Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 不堪
Podcast: 不堪
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AI Study Notes for 不堪
Quick Contrast
难忍 (nán rěn) means 'hard to endure' and is used similarly, but 不堪 emphasizes a stronger sense of being overwhelmed or unable to tolerate something.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 不堪 with similar expressions like 受不了 (shòu bù liǎo), which means 'cannot endure'. 不堪 is more formal and has a stronger connotation of distress. Be careful with tone pronunciation; the first syllable is pronounced with a falling tone (bù) and the second with a level tone (kān).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, 不堪 connects to themes of emotional expression and experiences. Students should focus on using it in complex sentences and understanding its nuances in different contexts, as it's often used in literature and formal discussions.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is to use 不堪 in a light-hearted context, which can lead to misunderstandings. For example, saying '我不堪这个工作' (I cannot bear this job) when expressing mild dissatisfaction is incorrect; a more suitable phrase would be '我不喜欢这个工作'.
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Pronunciation of 不堪
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不堪 (bù kān) means 'cannot bear' or 'cannot stand', often used to express an extreme reaction to something unpleasant or intolerable. It is commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese to convey feelings of discomfort or distress, especially in formal contexts.
When to use 不堪
Learners often confuse 不堪 with similar expressions like 受不了 (shòu bù liǎo), which means 'cannot endure'. 不堪 is more formal and has a stronger connotation of distress. Be careful with tone pronunciation; the first syllable is pronounced with a falling tone (bù) and the second with a level tone (kān).
不堪 or something close to it
难忍 (nán rěn) means 'hard to endure' and is used similarly, but 不堪 emphasizes a stronger sense of being overwhelmed or unable to tolerate something.
What learners get wrong
A common mistake is to use 不堪 in a light-hearted context, which can lead to misunderstandings. For example, saying '我不堪这个工作' (I cannot bear this job) when expressing mild dissatisfaction is incorrect; a more suitable phrase would be '我不喜欢这个工作'.
Write 不堪
不
堪
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Grammar Patterns of 不堪
不堪 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 4 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.
