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不免 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
不免bùmiǎninevitablyHSK 7, c, rank #38436, Hard
bùmiǎn(bu4mian3) T4
  1. 1inevitably
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March 24, 2026
不免bùmiǎn(bu4mian3)

The term '不免' (bù miǎn) means 'inevitably' or 'unavoidably.' It is often used in contexts where an outcome is certain to occur, regardless of attempts to prevent it. Commonly, it appears in discussions about situations that are beyond one's control or when acknowledging that something will happen despite efforts to change it.

Frequency#38436DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

'不免' is often used in literary and philosophical discussions in Chinese culture, reflecting a worldview that acknowledges the inevitability of fate or circumstances. This resonates with traditional beliefs about destiny and acceptance of life's uncontrollable aspects.

Memory Tip

Think of '不免' as 'not able to escape' from a situation, which sounds similar to 'but' (不) and 'to avoid' (免). Imagine a scenario where you are stuck in a rainstorm without an umbrella, illustrating that you cannot avoid getting wet—hence, it's inevitable.

Meanings of 不免

bùmiǎn(bu4mian3)
1inevitably
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 不免

不免Simplified
Strokes
Radical
连词连词conjunction (conj.)Part of Speech
#38436Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRB2

Podcast: 不免

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Podcast: 不免

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AI Study Notes for 不免

Quick Contrast

不可避免 (bù kě bì miǎn) - use 不免 for a more conversational tone, while 不可避免 is more formal.

Memory Mnemonic

Think of '不免' as 'not able to escape' from a situation, which sounds similar to 'but' (不) and 'to avoid' (免). Imagine a scenario where you are stuck in a rainstorm without an umbrella, illustrating that you cannot avoid getting wet—hence, it's inevitable.

Usage Notes

A common mistake is using '不免' in overly casual contexts where a simpler term like '会' (huì) meaning 'will' could suffice. This phrase leans towards a more formal register, so it's better suited for writing or serious discussions. Be careful with the tones; a mispronunciation could confuse the meaning.

HSK Study Tips

As a level 6 word, '不免' connects well with other advanced vocabulary that deals with inevitability and necessity. Students should focus on its usage within complex sentence structures and practice combining it with verbs to express inevitability in various contexts.

Cultural Note

'不免' is often used in literary and philosophical discussions in Chinese culture, reflecting a worldview that acknowledges the inevitability of fate or circumstances. This resonates with traditional beliefs about destiny and acceptance of life's uncontrollable aspects.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse '不免' with '免不了' (miǎn bù liǎo), which has a similar meaning but is more colloquial. For example, saying '这件事不免' (zhè jiàn shì bù miǎn) is less common than '这件事免不了' (zhè jiàn shì miǎn bù liǎo).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 不免

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Component Characters

(negative prefix)
HSK 14 strokes
View full entry
miǎnto excuse sb
HSK 67 strokes
View full entry

Write 不免

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

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Grammar Patterns of 不免

不免 functions as a conjunction — it connects clauses or phrases. Many Chinese conjunctions come in pairs (虽然…但是…, 因为…所以…); use them at the front of the clauses they link. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

第一次参加考试,____有些紧张。

Taking an exam for the first time, it is inevitable to feel a bit nervous.

Example Sentences for 不免 (2)

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1
忙中不免出错.

máng zhōng bù miǎn chū cuò.

We tend to make mistakes when we do things in a hurry.
2
这段路太窄,交通有时不免堵塞.

zhè duàn lù tài zhǎi, , jiāo tōng yǒu shí bù miǎn dǔ.

This section of the road is so norrow that there are bound to be traffic jams now and then.
Exercise 1 of 1

Reorder the Sentence

We tend to make mistakes when we do things in a hurry.

Tap tokens to build the sentence

Cultural Notes for 不免

🏮Cultural insight

'不免' is often used in literary and philosophical discussions in Chinese culture, reflecting a worldview that acknowledges the inevitability of fate or circumstances. This resonates with traditional beliefs about destiny and acceptance of life's uncontrollable aspects.

Frequently Asked Questions about 不免

While it's more commonly found in written or formal contexts, you can use it in conversations that require a serious or reflective tone.