受不了
can’t stand; so … that it is unbearable
Structure
受不了 + 名词／句子 · 形容词 + 得让人受不了
What it means
“Can’t stand, can’t bear”: something is too much to take. After an adjective it means “so … that it is unbearable”.
How it is built
受不了 + noun or clause: 我受不了烟味儿 (I can’t stand the smell of smoke). Adjective + 得让人受不了 or 得受不了: 这儿的夏天热得让人受不了 (summers here are unbearably hot).
When to use it
It is verb + 不了, like 吃不了: 受 “bear” + 不了 “cannot”. Ask with 受得了吗？ Said shòu bu liǎo, with 不 unstressed. Common in everyday complaints: 大家都受不了他了.
Watch out
Don’t say 不能受 or 不受了 for “can’t stand”: ✗ 我不能受烟味儿。 ✓ 我受不了烟味儿。
Examples
我受不了烟味儿。
I can’t stand the smell of smoke.
这儿的夏天热得让人受不了。
Summers here are unbearably hot.
他每天都迟到，大家都受不了他了。
He’s late every day; everyone has had enough of him.
Learn this in HSK 4 · Lesson 10: 别再抽烟了 (Giving up smoking)
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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