Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
不理 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
不理bùlǐto refuse to acknowledgeHSK 7, unknown, 15 strokes, rank #14194, Very Hard
不理bùlǐto pay no attention toHSK 7, unknown, 15 strokes, rank #14194, Very Hard
不理bùlǐto take no notice ofHSK 7, unknown, 15 strokes, rank #14194, Very Hard
不理bùlǐto ignoreHSK 7, unknown, 15 strokes, rank #14194, Very Hard
bùlǐ(bu4li3) T4
  1. 1to refuse to acknowledge
  2. 2to pay no attention to
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

不理bùlǐ(bu4li3)

不理 means to refuse to acknowledge or pay attention to someone or something. It is commonly used in contexts where a person deliberately ignores another, often indicating a lack of interest or disapproval. This term can convey a sense of emotional distance or rejection.

Strokes15Frequency#14194DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

Ignoring someone in Chinese culture can signify a serious social faux pas, especially in close relationships or familial contexts. The concept of face (面子) is important, and ignoring someone can be seen as a direct affront to their dignity.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person standing in a crowd, shouting for help, but everyone around them is wearing earplugs, not listening at all. The character 不 (bù) indicates 'not' and 理 (lǐ) can suggest 'to reason' or 'to pay attention to.' So, 不理 is like saying 'not paying attention to reason.'

Meanings of 不理

bùlǐ(bu4li3)
1to refuse to acknowledge
2to pay no attention to
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 不理

不理Simplified
15Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5BCT✓CEFRC2

Podcast: 不理

JasonAmy

Podcast: 不理

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 不理

Quick Contrast

不理 (bùlǐ) vs 忽视 (hūshì) — use 不理 when indicating a personal choice to ignore someone, while 忽视 suggests neglecting something due to oversight or lack of attention.

Usage Notes

Be cautious about the tone; 不理 is somewhat informal and can come off as rude if used in a formal setting. Common collocations include 不理别人 (ignore others) or 不理会 (not respond). Make sure to use the correct tones to avoid misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

不理 is a useful term for beginners, particularly at HSK 3, as it helps learners express emotions and social dynamics. Focus on its usage in conversations about relationships and social interactions, as it ties into the themes of communication.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 不理 with 忽视 (hūshì), which means 'to neglect' and has a different emotional weight. For example, saying '我不理他' (I ignore him) is correct, but saying '我忽视他' might imply a lack of awareness rather than a conscious choice.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 不理

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 不理 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Component Characters

不bù(negative prefix)
HSK 14 strokes一
View full entry
理lǐtexture
HSK 611 strokes王
View full entry

How to say to refuse to acknowledge in Chinese

“to refuse to acknowledge” in Chinese is不理bùlǐ

不理 means to refuse to acknowledge or pay attention to someone or something. It is commonly used in contexts where a person deliberately ignores another, often indicating a lack of interest or disapproval. This term can convey a sense of emotional distance or rejection.

When to use 不理

Be cautious about the tone; 不理 is somewhat informal and can come off as rude if used in a formal setting. Common collocations include 不理别人 (ignore others) or 不理会 (not respond). Make sure to use the correct tones to avoid misunderstandings.

不理 or something close to it

不理 (bùlǐ) vs 忽视 (hūshì) — use 不理 when indicating a personal choice to ignore someone, while 忽视 suggests neglecting something due to oversight or lack of attention.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 不理 with 忽视 (hūshì), which means 'to neglect' and has a different emotional weight. For example, saying '我不理他' (I ignore him) is correct, but saying '我忽视他' might imply a lack of awareness rather than a conscious choice.

Write 不理

不
理

Practice writing 不理 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Frequently Asked Questions about 不理

Yes, 不理 typically has a negative connotation, indicating disregard or rejection.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 不理?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.