受不了

• Pinyin: shòu bu liǎo
• Hanzi breakdown: 受 = 爪 (claw) + 冖 (cover) + 又 (hand), meaning to receive or endure; 不 = negation; 了 = resultative complement indicating outcome

Meaning

Cannot stand; cannot bear; unbearable.

A resultative complement structure meaning one cannot endure or tolerate something. Very common in spoken Chinese to express that a situation, feeling, or behaviour has exceeded one's limit of tolerance. Can describe physical or emotional intolerance.

Examples

1. 今天热得让人受不了。 It's so hot today that it's unbearable.
2. 楼上的噪音太大了，我实在受不了。 The noise from upstairs is too loud; I really can't stand it.
3. 她受不了他总是迟到的坏习惯。 She can't stand his bad habit of always being late.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, complaints

Tone: emphatic

Do Say

• 这个味道太难闻了，我受不了！(This smell is terrible; I can't stand it!)
• 排了两个小时的队，真受不了。(Queuing for two hours — I really can't take it.)

Don't Say

• 这道数学题我受不了。(Don't use 受不了 for intellectual difficulty — use 做不出来 or 不会做. 受不了 is for tolerance, not ability.)

Origin & History

Compound of 受 (to receive, to endure), 不 (not), and 了 (resultative complement), literally 'cannot endure it.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal