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March 24, 2026
不堪bùkān(bu4kan1)
不堪 (bù kān) means 'cannot bear' or 'cannot stand', often used to express an extreme reaction to something unpleasant or intolerable. It is commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese to convey feelings of discomfort or distress, especially in formal contexts.
Frequency#9585DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
不堪 can often be found in discussions about social issues or historical events in China, where individuals express their inability to tolerate hardship or injustice, reflecting the resilience and struggles of the Chinese people.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person (represented by the character '不', meaning 'not') trying to carry a heavy load (the character '堪', which visually resembles a person struggling with the weight). The phrase 'cannot bear' is like saying the burden is too much to handle, making '不堪' a vivid reminder of what is unbearable.
Meanings of 不堪
bùkān(bu4kan1)
1cannot bear
2cannot stand
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 不堪
不堪Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#9585Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 不堪
Podcast: 不堪
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AI Study Notes for 不堪
Quick Contrast
难忍 (nán rěn) means 'hard to endure' and is used similarly, but 不堪 emphasizes a stronger sense of being overwhelmed or unable to tolerate something.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person (represented by the character '不', meaning 'not') trying to carry a heavy load (the character '堪', which visually resembles a person struggling with the weight). The phrase 'cannot bear' is like saying the burden is too much to handle, making '不堪' a vivid reminder of what is unbearable.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 不堪 with similar expressions like 受不了 (shòu bù liǎo), which means 'cannot endure'. 不堪 is more formal and has a stronger connotation of distress. Be careful with tone pronunciation; the first syllable is pronounced with a falling tone (bù) and the second with a level tone (kān).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, 不堪 connects to themes of emotional expression and experiences. Students should focus on using it in complex sentences and understanding its nuances in different contexts, as it's often used in literature and formal discussions.
Cultural Note
不堪 can often be found in discussions about social issues or historical events in China, where individuals express their inability to tolerate hardship or injustice, reflecting the resilience and struggles of the Chinese people.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is to use 不堪 in a light-hearted context, which can lead to misunderstandings. For example, saying '我不堪这个工作' (I cannot bear this job) when expressing mild dissatisfaction is incorrect; a more suitable phrase would be '我不喜欢这个工作'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 不堪
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Grammar Patterns of 不堪
不堪 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Many people find the idea of any kind of invasive surgery unbearable.
4
那座城市的街道肮脏不堪，弥漫着令人窒息的废气。
nà zuò chéng shì de jiē dào āng zāng bù kān， ， mí màn zháo líng rén zhì xī de fèi。
The city's streets are filthy and choked with exhaust fumes.
5
弗兰克·马里亚诺驾驶他那辆破烂不堪的皮卡车成功穿越了沙漠地带。
fú lán kè· · mǎ lǐ yà nuò jià shǐ tā nà liàng pò làn bù kān de pí kǎ chē chéng gōng chuān yuè le shā mò dì。
Frank Mariano negotiates the desert terrain in his battered pickup.
6
我不再去回忆那些痛苦不堪的往事了。
wǒ bù zài qù huí yì nà xiē tòng kǔ bù kān de wǎng shì le。
I shut out the memory which was too painful to dwell on.
7
房子里空无一人，破败不堪。
fáng zǐ lǐ kōng wú yī rén， ， pò bài bù。
The house was unoccupied and in a bad state of disrepair.
8
成千上万的难民涌入拥挤不堪的城镇和村庄。
chéng qiān shàng wàn de nán mín yǒng rù yōng jǐ bù kān de chéng zhèn hé cūn zhuāng。
Thousands of refugees are packed into over-crowded towns and villages.
9
他们已经在恶劣不堪的条件下生活两个月了。
tā mén yǐ jīng zài è liè bù kān de tiáo jiàn xià shēng huó liǎng gè yuè le。
They have been living under the most appalling conditions for two months.
10
被拘留者抱怨提供的食物不堪下咽。
bèi jū liú zhě bào yuàn tí gōng de shí wù bù kān xià yān。
Detainees complained of being given food which is inedible.
Cultural Notes for 不堪
🏮Cultural insight
不堪 can often be found in discussions about social issues or historical events in China, where individuals express their inability to tolerate hardship or injustice, reflecting the resilience and struggles of the Chinese people.
Frequently Asked Questions about 不堪
Yes, but it is more appropriate in formal contexts or when discussing serious topics.
It is a negative expression, indicating something that is intolerable or extremely difficult to bear.
