不得 - Zhictionary

不得

bude

complement placed after a verb to express impossibility or inability; cannot; be unable to

Wiktionary

Homographs

不得

bùdé

must not
may not
not to be allowed
cannot

Examples

我哭不得，笑不得。

I don't know whether to cry or to laugh.

I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

Source: Tatoeba

总统不得解散国会。

The President cannot disband the Parliament.

Source: Tatoeba

衰老不得，智慧不得不得。

Don't get older, get wiser.

Source: Tatoeba

学生不得在校园范围内吸烟。

Students are forbidden to smoke on the school grounds.

Source: Tatoeba

你太老了，做不得这种事了。

You're too old to be doing this kind of thing.

Source: Tatoeba

Entry Composition

不

bù

no; not so
(bound form) not; un-

得

dé

to obtain
to get
to gain
to catch (a disease)
proper
suitable
proud
contented
to allow
to permit
ready
finished

structural particle: used after a verb (or adjective as main verb), linking it to following phrase indicating effect, degree, possibility etc

得

děi

to have to
must
ought to
to need to

Containing this entry