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不起. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
不起, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
不起 in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
不起 you have here. The definition of the word
不起 will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
不起, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Chinese
Pronunciation
Particle
不起
- (used after verbs) cannot afford to ...
- 買不起／买不起 ― mǎi bùqǐ ― too expensive to buy
- 玩不起 ― wán bùqǐ ― cannot afford to be played
牙醫貴到我都看不起了。 [MSC, trad.]
牙医贵到我都看不起了。 [MSC, simp.]- Yáyī guì dào wǒ dōu kàn bùqǐ le.
- Dentists are so expensive that I can't afford to go to visit.
- 對不起／对不起 ― duìbùqǐ ― cannot afford to face → sorry
- (used after verbs) do not wish to ... (in contempt)
- 看不起 ― kànbùqǐ ― to look down upon
Verb
不起
- (literary) to be unable to get up (e.g. to sickness)
See also
- (Cantonese) 唔起 (m4 hei2), 唔住 (m4 zyu6)
Derived terms