Word: 不能 (bùnéng)

做作业不能马马虎虎。

Zuò zuòyè bùnéng mǎma-hūhū.

You can't be careless when doing homework.

做实验不能造假，这是底线。

Zuò shíyàn bùnéng zàojiǎ, zhè shì dǐxiàn.

You can't fake results in an experiment; that's the bottom line.

做生意要讲良心，不能骗人。

Zuòshēngyì yào jiǎng liángxīn, bùnéng piànrén.

In business you have to have a conscience and not cheat people.

做研究就要精益求精，不能马虎。

Zuò yánjiū jiùyào jīngyìqiújīng, bùnéng mǎhu.

In research you must keep striving for perfection and not be careless.

做领导的要务实，不能只会开会。

Zuò lǐngdǎo de yào wùshí, bùnéng zhǐ huì kāihuì.

A leader has to deal with real matters and can't just hold meetings.

光靠外援，不能解决问题。

Guāng kào wàiyuán, bùnéng jiějué wèntí.

Relying on outside aid alone can't solve the problem.

公共事业的收费不能太高。

Gōnggòngshìyè de shōufèi bùnéng tài gāo.

Charges for public utilities shouldn't be too high.

公共场所不能大声打电话。

Gōnggòngchǎngsuǒ bùnéng dàshēng dǎdiànhuà.

You shouldn't make loud phone calls in public places.

公款不能随便花在私事上。

Gōngkuǎn bùnéng suíbiàn huā zài sīshì shàng.

Public funds must not be spent freely on private matters.

冥币不是真的钱，不能花。

Míngbì bú shì zhēnde qián, bùnéng huā.

Spirit money isn't real money, so you can't spend it.

冲奶粉的水不能太热。

Chōng nǎifěn de shuǐ bùnéng tài rè.

The water for mixing milk powder shouldn't be too hot.

凡是没有票的人，都不能进去。

Fánshì méiyǒu piào de rén, dōu bùnéng jìnqù.

Anyone without a ticket cannot go in.

出了问题，你不能推卸责任。

Chūle wèntí, nǐ bùnéng tuīxiè zérèn.

When something goes wrong, you can't dodge responsibility.

办案要讲证据，不能乱猜。

Bàn'àn yào jiǎng zhèngjù, bùnéng luàn cāi.

Handling a case requires evidence, not wild guesses.

卒子过河，不能后退

zúzǐ guòhé, bùnéng hòutuì

a pawn that has crossed the river: it cannot retreat

单凭力量不能保证取胜。

Dān píng lìliang bùnéng bǎozhèng qǔshèng.

Relying on strength alone cannot guarantee victory.

吃抗生素时不能喝酒。

Chī kàngshēngsù shí bùnéng hējiǔ.

You shouldn't drink alcohol while taking antibiotics.

合同不能单方面修改。

Hétong bùnéng dānfāngmiàn xiūgǎi.

A contract can't be changed by one side alone.

合同里不能有任何歧义。

Hétong lǐ bùnéng yǒu rènhé qíyì.

There can be no ambiguity at all in a contract.

员工不能随便泄密。

Yuángōng bùnéng suíbiàn xièmì.

Employees must not leak secrets carelessly.

咖啡不能引起我的兴趣。

Kāfēi bùnéng yǐnqǐ wǒ de xìngqù.

Coffee does not arouse my interest.

咖啡里能不能掺一点牛奶？

Kāfēi lǐ néng bùnéng chān yìdiǎn niúnǎi?

Could you add a little milk to the coffee?

哦，能不能请你帮我听一下电话？

Ó, néng bùnéng qǐng nǐ bāng wǒ tīng yíxià diànhuà?

Oh, could you please answer the phone for me?

因为下大雨，工地迟迟不能动工。

Yīnwèi xià dàyǔ, gōngdì chíchí bùnéng dònggōng.

Because of the heavy rain, the site couldn't start construction for a long time.

因为下大雪，他们不能按时供货。

Yīnwèi xià dàxuě, tāmen bùnéng ànshí gōnghuò.

Because of the heavy snow, they can't supply the goods on time.

因为下雨，我们不能出去。

Yīnwèi xiàyǔ, wǒmen bùnéng chūqù.

We can't go outside because it's raining.

因为他生病了，所以他不能来。

Yīnwèi tā shēngbìng le, suǒyǐ tā bùnéng lái.

Because he's sick, he can't come.

垃圾不能随便焚烧，对吗？

Lājī bùnéng suíbiàn fénshāo, duì ma?

Garbage can't just be burned anywhere, right?

墙上画的烙饼,能看不能吃

qiáng shang huà de làobǐng,néng kàn bùnéng chī

a flatbread painted on the wall: you can look but you can't eat

墙上画马不能骑,纸上画饼不充饥

qiáng shàng huà mǎ bùnéng qí,zhǐ shang huàbǐng bù chōngjī

a horse painted on a wall can't be ridden; a cake drawn on paper can't fill the stomach

外来的车不能进小区。

Wàilái de chē bùnéng jìn xiǎoqū.

Outside vehicles aren't allowed into the residential compound.

太久了，我们不能再等。

Tài jiǔle, wǒmen bùnéng zài děng.

It's been too long -- we can't wait any more.

太热了不能待在这里。

Tài rè le bùnéng dài zài zhèlǐ.

It is too hot to stay here.

她因病不能出席会议。

Tā yīn bìng bùnéng chūxí huìyì.

She couldn't attend that party because she was sick.

她现在很忙，不能和你谈话。

Tā xiànzài hěn máng, bùnéng hé nǐ tánhuà.

She is busy at present and can't speak to you.

她终究是我姐姐，我不能不管。

Tā zhōngjiū shì wǒ jiějie, wǒ bùnéng bùguǎn.

After all, she is my sister, so I can't ignore her.

她连连摆手，说不能喝酒。

Tā liánlián bǎishǒu, shuō bùnéng hējiǔ.

She waved her hands repeatedly and said she couldn't drink.

学习不能只背教条，要会思考。

Xuéxí bùnéng zhǐ bèi jiàotiáo, yào huì sīkǎo.

In study you can't just memorize dogma; you have to think.

学习不能急功近利。

Xuéxí bùnéng jígōngjìnlì.

You can't be impatient for quick results when studying.

学外语不能半途而废。

Xué wàiyǔ bùnéng bàntú'érfèi.

You mustn't give up halfway when learning a foreign language.

学外语不能急于求成，要慢慢来。

Xué wàiyǔ bùnéng jíyúqiúchéng, yào mànmànlái.

You can't be too eager for quick results when learning a foreign language; take it slowly.

学校里不能使用暴力。

Xuéxiào lǐ bùnéng shǐyòng bàolì.

Violence is not allowed at school.

学英语不能只靠死记硬背。

Xué Yīngyǔ bùnéng zhǐ kào sǐjìyìngbèi.

You can't learn English by rote memorization alone.

学语言不能偷懒，要天天练习。

Xué yǔyán bùnéng tōulǎn, yào tiāntiān liànxí.

You can't be lazy when learning a language; you have to practice every day.

孩子不能太惯了。

Háizi bùnéng tài guànle.

You should not spoil a kid too much.

官员不能不顾民意。

Guānyuán bùnéng búgù mínyì.

Officials cannot ignore the public will.

定金交了就不能退了。

Dìngjīn jiāole jiù bùnéng tuìle.

Once the down payment is made, it can't be refunded.

实验室里不能吃东西。

Shíyànshì lǐ bùnéng chī dōngxi.

You can't eat in the laboratory.

家母病了，今天不能来了。

Jiāmǔ bìng le, jīntiān bùnéng láile.

My mother is ill and cannot come today.

富人妻，墙上皮，掉了一层再和泥；穷人妻，心肝肺，一时一刻不能离

fùrén qī, qiáng shàngpí, diào le yìcéng zài huó ní; qióngrén qī, xīngān fèi, yìshíyíkè bùnéng lí

a rich man's wife is the skin on the wall: when a layer falls off, mix more mud; a poor man's wife is heart, liver and lungs: not apart for a moment

对不起，我不能待很久。

Duìbùqǐ, wǒ bùnéng dài hěn jiǔ.

I'm sorry, I can't stay long.

对方不能按时供货，怎么办？

Duìfāng bùnéng ànshí gōnghuò, zěnmebàn?

What should we do if the other side can't supply the goods on time?

寿面不能剪断，寓意长寿。

Shòumiàn bùnéng jiǎnduàn, yùyì chángshòu.

Longevity noodles must not be cut, because they stand for a long life.

射箭要有的放矢，不能乱射。

Shèjiàn yào yǒudìfàngshǐ, bùnéng luàn shè.

When shooting arrows, you must aim at a target and not shoot randomly.

小公鸡害嗓子,不能再啼了

xiǎo gōngjī hài sǎngzi,bùnéng zài tíle

a young rooster with a sore throat: can't crow any more

小孩儿不能在这条河里游泳。

Xiǎoháir bùnéng zài zhè tiáo hé lǐ yóuyǒng.

Children can't swim in this river.

工厂不能把污水直接排进河里。

Gōngchǎng bùnéng bǎ wūshuǐ zhíjiē pái jìn hé lǐ.

Factories must not discharge sewage directly into the river.

工厂不能随便排放污水。

Gōngchǎng bùnéng suíbiàn páifàng wūshuǐ.

Factories must not discharge waste water as they please.

工厂的脏水不能流入湖里。

Gōngchǎng de zāngshuǐ bùnéng liúrù húlǐ.

The factory's dirty water must not flow into the lake.

店里的东西一概不能退换。

Diàn lǐ de dōngxi yígài bùnéng tuìhuàn.

Nothing in the shop can be returned or exchanged, without exception.

开车前不能喝含酒精的饮料。

Kāichē qián bùnéng hē hán jiǔjīng de yǐnliào.

You can't drink beverages containing alcohol before driving.

开车时，车速不能太快。

Kāichē shí, chēsù bùnéng tài kuài.

When you drive, your speed shouldn't be too fast.

当时我什么都不能做。

Dāngshí wǒ shénme dōu bùnéng zuò.

There was nothing I could do at that time.

很抱歉，我们不能接受你的要求。

Hěn bàoqiàn, wǒmen bùnéng jiēshòu nǐ de yāoqiú.

We are sorry we are unable to accept your request.

很遗憾你不能来。

Hěn yíhàn nǐ bùnéng lái.

It's a pity that you couldn't come.

很遗憾你们不能来。

Hěn yíhàn nǐmen bùnéng lái.

It's a pity that you can't come.

您不能使用这台洗衣机。

Nín bùnéng shǐyòng zhè tái xǐyījī.

You can't use this washing machine.

您不能在此停车。

Nín bùnéng zài cǐ tíngchē.

You mustn't park here.

您不能在这里游泳。

Nín bùnéng zài zhèlǐ yóuyǒng.

You cannot swim here.

您不能炒了我们。

Nín bùnéng chǎole wǒmen.

You can't fire us.

情况不同，不能一概而论。

Qíngkuàng bùtóng, bùnéng yígài'érlùn.

The situations are different, so they can't all be lumped together.

想治疮不能怕挖肉

xiǎng zhì chuāng bùnéng pà wā ròu

to cure a sore you can't fear cutting out flesh

我一整周都不能去学校了。

Wǒ yì zhěng zhōu dōu bùnéng qù xuéxiào le.

I couldn't go to school for a whole week.

我不知道我能不能做。

Wǒ bù zhīdào wǒ néng bùnéng zuò.

I don't know if I can do it.

我不知道我能不能再做一次。

Wǒ bù zhīdào wǒ néng bùnéng zài zuò yícì.

I wonder if I can do it again.

我不知道我能不能负担得起。

Wǒ bù zhīdào wǒ néng bùnéng fùdān de qǐ.

I'm not sure I can afford it.

我不知道能不能帮上忙。

Wǒ bù zhīdào néng bùnéng bāng shàng máng.

I don't know if I can help.

我不能买这本书，太贵了。

Wǒ bùnéng mǎi zhè běn shū, tài guìle.

I cannot buy this book. It's too expensive.

我不能借你任何钱。

Wǒ bùnéng jiè nǐ rènhé qián.

I can't lend you any money.

我不能做这个。

Wǒ bùnéng zuò zhège.

I cannot do this.

我不能再忍受这种痛苦了。

Wǒ bùnéng zài rěnshòu zhèzhǒng tòngkǔ le.

I can't stand this pain any more.

我不能再承受这种痛苦。

Wǒ bùnéng zài chéngshòu zhèzhǒng tòngkǔ.

I can't stand this pain any more.

我不能再拖延了。

Wǒ bùnéng zài tuōyánle.

I have to stop procrastinating.

我不能再管这问题了。

Wǒ bùnéng zài guǎn zhè wèntí le.

I can't deal with this problem anymore.

我不能再继续等他了。

Wǒ bùnéng zài jìxù děng tā le.

I can wait for him no longer.

我不能再走了。

Wǒ bùnéng zài zǒule.

I can't go any farther.

我不能取消它。

Wǒ bùnéng qǔxiāo tā.

I can't undo it.

我不能叫他做那件事。

Wǒ bùnéng jiào tā zuò nà jiàn shì.

I can't ask him to do that.

我不能同意您的看法。

Wǒ bùnéng tóngyì nín de kànfǎ.

I cannot agree with your opinion.

我不能同时注意两件事。

Wǒ bùnéng tóngshí zhùyì liǎng jiàn shì.

I can't focus on two things at the same time.

我不能否认，你很有型。

Wǒ bùnéng fǒurèn, nǐ hěn yǒuxíng.

I can't deny it. You've got style.

我不能喝牛奶。

Wǒ bùnéng hē niúnǎi.

I can't drink milk.

我不能喝绿茶。

Wǒ bùnéng hē lǜchá.

I can't drink green tea.

我不能回答所有的问题。

Wǒ bùnéng huídá suǒyǒu de wèntí.

I couldn't answer all the questions.

我不能帮你了。

Wǒ bùnéng bāng nǐ le.

I wasn't able to help you.

我不能忍受。

Wǒ bùnéng rěnshòu.

I can't stand it.

我不能忍受他的傲慢。

Wǒ bùnéng rěnshòu tā de àomàn.

I cannot put up with his arrogance.

我不能忍受就这样看着它。

Wǒ bùnéng rěnshòu jiù zhèyàng kànzhe tā.

I couldn't stand looking at it.

我不能忍受这种气味。

Wǒ bùnéng rěnshòu zhèzhǒng qìwèi.

I can't put up with this smell.

我不能忍着不笑。

Wǒ bùnéng rěnzhe bú xiào.

I couldn't stop myself from laughing.