了不起

• Pinyin: liǎo bu qǐ
• Hanzi breakdown: 了 = completion; 不 = not; 起 = rise — literally 'cannot be contained,' hence extraordinary

Meaning

Amazing; remarkable; extraordinary. Used to praise someone or something as impressive or outstanding.

An adjective expressing admiration for exceptional achievements or qualities. Can be used sincerely or sometimes sarcastically. Often placed after 很, 真, or 太 for emphasis. Can also be used as a predicate or attributive modifier.

Examples

1. 她一个人完成了这么大的项目，真了不起！ She completed such a big project all by herself — truly amazing!
2. 他的中文说得这么好，太了不起了。 His Chinese is so good — that's incredible.
3. 能考上这所大学的学生都很了不起。 Students who can get into this university are all remarkable.

Usage Guide

Context: praise, everyday

Tone: admiring

Do Say

• 你真了不起，一年就学会了开车。(You're really amazing — you learned to drive in just one year.)
• 他能做到这一点，真是了不起。(It's truly remarkable that he could accomplish this.)

Don't Say

• 你以为你很了不起吗？ — be careful, this phrasing sounds sarcastic and confrontational (it means 'You think you're so great?')

Origin & History

了不起 literally means 'cannot be finished' or 'beyond completion,' implying something so great it defies ordinary limits.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal