大不了
at worst; if worst comes to worst; (没什么大不了) no big deal
Structure
（最坏的情况） 大不了 能接受的结果
What it means
As an adverb, “at worst”: it names the worst that can happen and plays it down. As a predicate, “a big deal”, almost always negated: 没什么大不了的.
How it is built
Situation，大不了 + the worst outcome you can live with（就是了／而已）: 贵一点没关系，大不了少去几次 (pricey is fine; at worst I’ll go less often).
When to use it
Spoken and relaxed; it can sound defiant: 有什么大不了的？ (so what?). In formal writing use 最坏的情况下 or 至多.
Watch out
Do not mix it up with 了不起 (amazing) or 不得了 (extremely; terrible): ✗ 他真大不了 ✓ 他真了不起.
Examples
贵一点没关系，大不了少去几次。
A bit pricey is fine; at worst I’ll go less often.
这次没考好也没什么大不了的，明年再考。
Not doing well this time is no big deal; I’ll sit it again next year.
这家店要是关门了，大不了我们自己做。
If this place closes, the worst that happens is we cook it ourselves.
Learn this in Lesson 61 · HSK 6: 预制菜之争 (The ready-meal debate)
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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