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谈不上 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
谈不上tánbushàngto be out of the questionHSK 7, unknown, 17 strokes, rank #28877, Very Hard
tánbushàng(tan2bu5shang4)tan bu shang T2
  1. 1to be out of the question
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March 24, 2026

谈不上(談不上)tánbushàng(tan2bu5shang4)

谈不上 (tán bù shàng) means 'to be out of the question' or 'cannot be considered.' It is commonly used in situations where something is deemed impossible or inappropriate, expressing that a certain thought or idea cannot be taken seriously. This phrase often conveys a sense of dismissal regarding a suggestion or proposal.

Strokes17Frequency#28877DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, humility and modesty are valued; hence, saying something is '谈不上' reflects a cultural tendency to downplay one's abilities or achievements. This phrase can often be heard in discussions about personal accomplishments or opportunities.

Memory tip

Imagine someone making a lofty claim about achieving the impossible. You can visualize them talking (谈) but not being able to reach (上) that goal at all (不). The character 谈 looks like a person speaking, while 上 represents elevation, emphasizing that the claim is far beyond reach.

Meanings of 谈不上

tánbushàng(tan2bu5shang4)
1to be out of the question
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About 谈不上

谈不上Simplified
談不上Traditional
17Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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AI study notes for 谈不上

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone when using this phrase; the third tone (上) can easily be mispronounced if not practiced. It is generally used in informal contexts, but can be adapted to formal situations by adjusting the surrounding language. Common collocations include phrases like '谈不上什么' (can't be considered as anything).

HSK Study Tips

While 谈不上 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects with other expressions related to negation and impossibility, such as 不能 (bù néng) or 不可能 (bù kě néng). Focus on using it in conversation to express skepticism or disagreement with ideas.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 谈不上 with 说不上, mistakenly using it to mean 'cannot say.' For example, saying '我谈不上这件事' (I can't talk about this matter) should be corrected to '我说不上这件事.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 谈不上

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Component characters

谈tánto speak
HSK 410 strokes讠
View full entry
不bù(negative prefix)
HSK 14 strokes一
View full entry
上shàngon top
HSK 13 strokes一
View full entry

How to say to be out of the question in Chinese

“to be out of the question” in Chinese is谈不上tánbushàng

谈不上 (tán bù shàng) means 'to be out of the question' or 'cannot be considered.' It is commonly used in situations where something is deemed impossible or inappropriate, expressing that a certain thought or idea cannot be taken seriously. This phrase often conveys a sense of dismissal regarding a suggestion or proposal.

When to use 谈不上

Be cautious with the tone when using this phrase; the third tone (上) can easily be mispronounced if not practiced. It is generally used in informal contexts, but can be adapted to formal situations by adjusting the surrounding language. Common collocations include phrases like '谈不上什么' (can't be considered as anything).

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 谈不上 with 说不上, mistakenly using it to mean 'cannot say.' For example, saying '我谈不上这件事' (I can't talk about this matter) should be corrected to '我说不上这件事.'

Write 谈不上

谈
不
上

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Frequently asked questions about 谈不上

Use 谈不上 when you want to dismiss an idea or claim as unrealistic or impossible.

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