不堪 + 动词 · 形容词 + 不堪
cannot bear; (after an adjective) utterly, wretchedly
Structure
不堪 双音节词 （不堪重负、不堪回首、不堪一击） · 双音节形容词 不堪 （疲惫不堪、拥挤不堪、混乱不堪）
What it means
堪 is classical “can bear”, so 不堪 is “cannot bear”. Before a word it says a burden or memory is too much; after a bad-state adjective it means utterly, wretchedly.
How it is built
不堪 + two-syllable word: 不堪重负, 不堪回首, 不堪一击, 不堪设想; or two-syllable adjective + 不堪: 队员们个个疲惫不堪 (Every member of the squad is utterly worn out).
When to use it
Written and vivid, common in features and reports. Adjective + 不堪 works like 极了, but only for bad states: 拥挤不堪, 混乱不堪, 破旧不堪, 痛苦不堪.
Watch out
Not for good states: ✗高兴不堪. No 很: ✗很疲惫不堪 ✓疲惫不堪. Don't confuse it with 堪称 (lesson 3-16), where 堪 means “worthy of”: 堪称经典.
Examples
长年的高强度训练让关节不堪重负。
Years of intense training put the joints under more strain than they can bear.
一天练完两次，队员们个个疲惫不堪，吃完饭倒头就睡。
After two sessions in a day every member of the squad is utterly worn out, and they fall asleep as soon as they have eaten.
那段因伤退役、四处找工作的日子，他至今不堪回首。
He still cannot bear to look back on the days when injury ended his career and he went from place to place looking for work.
Learn this in Lesson 148 · HSK 7–9: 举重与举国体制 (Weightlifting and the state sports system)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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