不容

• Pinyin: bù róng
• Hanzi breakdown: 不 = not; 容 = 宀 (roof) + 谷 (valley), meaning to contain or allow

Meaning

To not allow; to not tolerate; to brook no. Used to express that something cannot or should not be permitted.

Often appears in formal contexts or set phrases like 不容置疑 (beyond doubt), 不容忽视 (cannot be ignored), 不容乐观 (not optimistic). Carries a tone of firmness and non-negotiability.

Examples

1. 这份证据确凿，不容置疑。 This evidence is rock-solid and beyond question.
2. 气候变化带来的威胁不容忽视。 The threat posed by climate change cannot be ignored.
3. 她用不容反驳的语气宣布了最终决定。 She announced the final decision in a tone that brooked no argument.

Usage Guide

Context: emphasis, warnings, certainty

Tone: firm

Do Say

• 事实不容否认。(The facts cannot be denied.)
• 这个问题不容忽视。(This problem cannot be ignored.)

Don't Say

• 我妈不容我吃冰淇淋。(For parental permission, use 不让 or 不允许 — 不容 is too formal for daily situations)

Origin & History

不 (not) + 容 (to allow, to tolerate). 容 originally depicted a roof over a valley, meaning to contain or accommodate.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Educated/Professional