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顾不上 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
顾不上gùbushàngcannot attend to or manageHSK 7, unknown, 17 strokes, Very Hard
gùbushàng(gu4bu5shang4) T4
  1. 1cannot attend to or manage
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March 24, 2026

顾不上(顧不上)gùbushàng(gu4bu5shang4)

The phrase '顾不上' means to be unable to attend to or manage something due to other pressing matters. It is commonly used to indicate that one is too busy or preoccupied to consider or handle another task or responsibility.

Strokes17DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

'顾不上' reflects the fast-paced nature of modern Chinese life, where people often juggle multiple responsibilities. This phrase captures the essence of busy urban living, where individuals frequently struggle to balance work and personal life.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person juggling multiple tasks and dropping one because they can't '顾' (take care of) it anymore. The '顾' character shows a person attending to something, while '不上' suggests something that cannot be managed, creating a clear image of being overwhelmed.

Meanings of 顾不上

gùbushàng(gu4bu5shang4)
1cannot attend to or manage
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About 顾不上

顾不上Simplified
顧不上Traditional
17Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedBCT✓CEFRC2

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Podcast: 顾不上

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AI Study Notes for 顾不上

Quick Contrast

忙不过来 (máng bù guòlái) - use '顾不上' when emphasizing neglect due to pressing matters, while '忙不过来' focuses on being overwhelmed with tasks.

Usage Notes

Learners should note that '顾不上' is often used in informal contexts. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar phrases like '顾得上,' which means the opposite. Pay attention to the tone; mispronouncing '上' can change the meaning.

HSK Study Tips

Though not a specific HSK level word, it can be useful for learners at HSK 4 or 5, as it relates to managing priorities. Students should focus on understanding how to use this phrase in conversation about time management and responsibilities.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is using '顾不上' when discussing something that one can manage. For example, saying '我顾不上吃饭' (I cannot manage to eat) is correct, but saying '我顾得上吃饭' (I can manage to eat) is incorrect when intending to express the opposite.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 顾不上

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Component Characters

顾gùto look after
HSK 610 strokes页
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 cannot attend to or manage in Chinese

“cannot attend to or manage” in Chinese is顾不上gùbushàng

The phrase '顾不上' means to be unable to attend to or manage something due to other pressing matters. It is commonly used to indicate that one is too busy or preoccupied to consider or handle another task or responsibility.

When to use 顾不上

Learners should note that '顾不上' is often used in informal contexts. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar phrases like '顾得上,' which means the opposite. Pay attention to the tone; mispronouncing '上' can change the meaning.

顾不上 or something close to it

忙不过来 (máng bù guòlái) - use '顾不上' when emphasizing neglect due to pressing matters, while '忙不过来' focuses on being overwhelmed with tasks.

What learners get wrong

A common mistake is using '顾不上' when discussing something that one can manage. For example, saying '我顾不上吃饭' (I cannot manage to eat) is correct, but saying '我顾得上吃饭' (I can manage to eat) is incorrect when intending to express the opposite.

Write 顾不上

顾
不
上

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

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Frequently Asked Questions about 顾不上

'顾不上' is better suited for casual conversations, so it's advisable to use a more formal phrase when writing emails.

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