Word: 不能 (bùnéng)

水果不能带过海关。

Shuǐguǒ bùnéng dàiguò hǎiguān.

You can't take fruit through customs.

污秽的水不能喝。

Wūhuì de shuǐ bùnéng hē.

You can't drink filthy water.

没有人会因为太老而不能学习。

Méiyǒu rén huì yīnwèi tài lǎo ér bùnéng xuéxí.

Nobody is too old to learn.

没有你帮忙，计划就不能成功了。

Méiyǒu nǐ bāngmáng, jìhuà jiù bùnéng chénggōngle.

Your help is indispensable for the success of the scheme.

没有学籍的学生不能参加考试。

Méiyǒu xuéjí de xuésheng bùnéng cānjiā kǎoshì.

Students without student status cannot take the exam.

没有房东同意，你不能随便转租。

Méiyǒu fángdōng tóngyì, nǐ bùnéng suíbiàn zhuǎnzū.

You can't just sublet without the landlord's permission.

没有护照，就不能换钱。

Méiyǒu hùzhào, jiù bùnéng huànqián.

Without a passport, you can't exchange money.

没有授权，不能用这张照片。

Méiyǒu shòuquán, bùnéng yòng zhè zhāng zhàopiān.

Without authorization, you can't use this photo.

没有梦想，人不能生存。

Méiyǒu mèngxiǎng, rén bùnéng shēngcún.

Man can't live without dreams.

没有水你不能生活。

Méiyǒu shuǐ nǐ bùnéng shēnghuó.

You can't live without water.

没有物证，法官不能随便定罪。

Méiyǒu wùzhèng, fǎguān bùnéng suíbiàn dìngzuì.

Without material evidence, a judge can't just convict someone.

没有经理的许可，谁也不能进去。

Méiyǒu jīnglǐ de xǔkě, shéi yě bùnéng jìnqù.

Without the manager's permission, nobody may go in.

没有虎符，就不能调兵。

Méiyǒu hǔfú, jiù bùnéng diàobīng.

Without the tiger tally, troops cannot be mobilized.

没有证据你们不能指责他偷东西。

Méiyǒu zhèngjù nǐmen bùnéng zhǐzé tā tōu dōngxi.

You can't accuse him of theft without having proof.

油和水不能混合。

Yóu hé shuǐ bùnéng hùnhé.

Oil and water don't blend.

油和水不能混在一起。

Yóu hé shuǐ bùnéng hùn zài yìqǐ.

Oil does not mix with water.

法官还没到，所以不能开庭。

Fǎguān hái méi dào, suǒyǐ bùnéng kāitíng.

The judge hasn't arrived, so the court can't begin.

海上风很狂，船不能出去。

Hǎishàng fēng hěn kuáng, chuán bùnéng chūqù.

The wind at sea is violent, so the boats can't go out.

消费者的权益不能被忽视。

Xiāofèizhě de quányì bùnéng bèi hūshì.

Consumers' rights must not be ignored.

消防栓前面不能停车。

Xiāofángshuān qiánmiàn bùnéng tíngchē.

You can't park in front of a fire hydrant.

渔民不能进入别国的水域捕鱼。

Yúmín bùnéng jìnrù biéguó de shuǐyù bǔyú.

Fishermen may not enter another country's waters to fish.

渔船不能进入别国的水域。

Yúchuán bùnéng jìnrù biéguó de shuǐyù.

Fishing boats may not enter another country's waters.

游客不能在古迹上乱画。

Yóukè bùnéng zài gǔjì shàng luànhuà.

Tourists must not scribble on historical sites.

漆器不能放在太阳下面。

Qīqì bùnéng fàng zài tàiyang xiàmiàn.

Lacquerware shouldn't be left out in the sun.

热饭不能热食

rèfàn bùnéng rèshí

hot rice shouldn't be eaten hot

烹调海鲜时，火不能太大。

Pēngtiáo hǎixiān shí, huǒ bùnéng tài dà.

When cooking seafood, the heat can't be too high.

爷爷常说，不能浪费粮食。

Yéye cháng shuō, bùnéng làngfèi liángshi.

Grandpa often says we mustn't waste food.

特价的衣服不能退换。

Tèjià de yīfu bùnéng tuìhuàn.

Clothes sold at the special price can't be returned or exchanged.

猛虎落在陷阱里，空发威，不能动弹

měnghǔ luò zài xiànjǐng li, kōng fāwēi, bùnéng dòngtan

a fierce tiger falls into a pit: its fury is for nothing, it can't move

现在太暗了不能打网球。

Xiànzài tài àn le bùnéng dǎ wǎngqiú.

It's too dark to play tennis now.

理论和实际不能脱节。

Lǐlùn hé shíjì bùnéng tuōjié.

Theory must not become detached from practice.

生了虫的拐棍儿，不能拄

shēngle chóng de guǎigùnr, bùnéng zhǔ

a worm-eaten walking stick: can't be leaned on

疔疮长在喉头上，有痛不能说

dīngchuāng zhǎng zài hóutóu shang, yǒu tòng bùnéng shuō

a boil growing on the throat: it hurts but you can't speak

百年树人，教育不能急。

Bǎiniánshùrén, jiàoyù bùnéng jí.

Raising people takes many years, so education can't be rushed.

看日食不能直接盯着太阳。

Kàn rìshí bùnéng zhíjiē dīngzhe tàiyang.

When watching a solar eclipse, you must not stare straight at the sun.

看问题要辩证，不能太片面。

Kàn wèntí yào biànzhèng, bùnéng tài piànmiàn.

You should look at issues dialectically and not be too one-sided.

真可惜你不能来！

Zhēn kěxī nǐ bùnéng lái!

It is a pity you cannot come.

矿产资源用完以后就不能再生了。

Kuàngchǎnzīyuán yòng wán yǐhòu jiù bùnéng zàishēngle.

Once mineral resources are used up, they can't be renewed.

破椅子，不能倚靠

pò yǐzi, bùnéng yǐkào

a broken chair: can't be leaned on

科学并不能解答所有问题。

Kēxué bìng bùnéng jiědá suǒyǒu wèntí.

Science doesn't have an answer to everything.

租约上写着不能养宠物吗？

Zūyuē shàng xiězhe bùnéng yǎng chǒngwù ma?

Does the lease say that pets are not allowed?

经理说公司不能随便解聘员工。

Jīnglǐ shuō gōngsī bùnéng suíbiàn jiěpìn yuángōng.

The manager said the company can't dismiss employees at will.

网站要加强自律，不能乱发消息。

Wǎngzhàn yào jiāqiáng zìlǜ, bùnéng luànfà xiāoxi.

Websites should strengthen self-regulation and not post information carelessly.

考试前一天也不能松懈。

Kǎoshì qiányìtiān yě bùnéng sōngxiè.

You can't let up even the day before the exam.

考试时不能弄虚作假。

Kǎoshì shí bùnéng nòngxūzuòjiǎ.

You must not cheat during exams.

能不能少用一些塑料袋？

Néng bùnéng shǎo yòng yìxiē sùliàodài?

Could we use fewer plastic bags?

能不能帮我修鞋？

Néng bùnéng bāng wǒ xiū xié?

Can you mend these shoes for me?

能不能把会议缩短一点？

Néng bùnéng bǎ huìyì suōduǎn yìdiǎn?

Can we make the meeting a bit shorter?

能不能把手续简化一下？

Néng bùnéng bǎ shǒuxù jiǎnhuà yíxià?

Could the procedures be simplified a bit?

能不能把还款时间延缓几天？

Néng bùnéng bǎ háikuǎn shíjiān yánhuǎn jǐtiān?

Could you put off the repayment date by a few days?

能不能简要说说你的想法？

Néng bùnéng jiǎnyào shuō shuō nǐ de xiǎngfǎ?

Could you concisely tell me your thoughts?

能不能给我打折？

Néng bùnéng gěi wǒ dǎzhé?

Can you give me a discount?

能不能请你拿着这端？

Néng bùnéng qǐng nǐ názhe zhè duān?

Will you please hold this edge?

能不能请你等几分钟？

Néng bùnéng qǐng nǐ děng jǐ fēnzhōng?

Would you please wait for a few minutes?

能不能请你重复一下？

Néng bùnéng qǐng nǐ chóngfù yíxià?

Could you please repeat that?

能不能请您留下一幅墨宝？

Néng bùnéng qǐng nín liúxià yìfú mòbǎo?

Could I trouble you to leave us a piece of your calligraphy?

自病不能自医

zì bìng bùnéng zì yī

one cannot cure one's own illness

花钱要有节制，不能乱买。

Huāqián yào yǒu jiézhì, bùnéng luàn mǎi.

You should spend with restraint and not buy things at random.

菜谱里的这一步不能省略。

Càipǔ lǐ de zhè yíbù bùnéng shěnglüè.

This step in the recipe can't be skipped.

菜里的盐含量不能太高。

Cài lǐ de yán hánliàng bùnéng tài gāo.

The amount of salt in the dishes can't be too high.

菜里盐的含量不能太高。

Cài lǐ yán de hánliàng bùnéng tài gāo.

The salt content in the food shouldn't be too high.

蔬菜不能说话。

Shūcài bùnéng shuōhuà.

Vegetables can't talk.

行李不能超过二十千克。

Xíngli bùnéng chāoguò èrshí qiānkè.

Luggage cannot exceed twenty kilograms.

要做到财务自由，不能只靠工资。

Yào zuòdào cáiwùzìyóu, bùnéng zhǐ kào gōngzī.

To reach financial freedom, you can't rely on a salary alone.

解决问题不能只靠武力。

Jiějué wèntí bùnéng zhǐ kào wǔlì.

You can't solve problems by force alone.

许多人不能而且不想去理解别人。

Xǔduō rén bùnéng érqiě bùxiǎng qù lǐjiě biéren.

Many people can't, and do not want to, make the effort to understand others.

论文的摘要不能超过三百字。

Lùnwén de zhāiyào bùnéng chāoguò sānbǎi zì.

The abstract of a paper can't exceed three hundred characters.

证据不足，不能说他有罪。

Zhèngjù bùzú, bùnéng shuō tā yǒuzuì.

With insufficient evidence, we can't say he is guilty.

语言不能减轻她的悲痛。

Yǔyán bùnéng jiǎnqīng tā de bēitòng.

No words can relieve her deep sorrow.

谁也不能否定其事实。

Shéi yě bùnéng fǒudìng qí shìshí.

No one can deny the fact.

谁也不能帮我。

Shéi yě bùnéng bāng wǒ.

No one can help me.

谁也不能让时间倒退。

Shéi yě bùnéng ràng shíjiān dàotuì.

No one can make time go backward.

谁也不能阻止这个计划的实行。

Shéi yě bùnéng zǔzhǐ zhège jìhuà de shíxíng.

Nobody can prevent this plan from being carried out.

谁都不能侵害别人的隐私。

Shéi dōu bùnéng qīnhài biéren de yǐnsī.

No one may infringe on other people's privacy.

资金还没有到位，工程不能开工。

Zījīn hái méiyǒu dàowèi, gōngchéng bùnéng kāigōng.

The funds aren't in place yet, so construction can't begin.

跟团游的时间很紧，不能随便逛。

Gēntuányóu de shíjiān hěn jǐn, bùnéng suíbiàn guàng.

On a package tour the schedule is tight, so you can't wander freely.

输液的时候，手不能乱动。

Shūyè de shíhou, shǒu bùnéng luàndòng.

You shouldn't move your hand around while you're on an IV.

过河的卒子，只能进，不能退

guòhé de zúzǐ, zhǐnéng jìn, bùnéng tuì

a pawn that has crossed the river: it can only advance, never retreat

这个问题不能以常规方法解决。

Zhège wèntí bùnéng yǐ chángguī fāngfǎ jiějué.

You cannot solve this problem with the usual method.

这个问题不能用普通的办法解决。

Zhège wèntí bùnéng yòng pǔtōng de bànfǎ jiějué.

You cannot solve this problem in an ordinary way.

这么重要的事，不能草率决定。

Zhème zhòngyào de shì, bùnéng cǎoshuài juédìng.

Something this important can't be decided carelessly.

这儿不能停车。

Zhèr bùnéng tíngchē.

You can't park here.

这冰太薄不能承受你的重量。

Zhè bīng tài báo bùnéng chéngshòu nǐ de zhòngliàng.

The ice is too thin to bear your weight.

这只是个案，不能代表所有人。

Zhè zhǐshì gè'àn, bùnéng dàibiǎo suǒyǒurén.

This is just an individual case and can't represent everyone.

这只鸟不能飞。

Zhè zhī niǎo bùnéng fēi.

This bird cannot fly.

这截木头太短，不能用。

Zhè jié mùtou tài duǎn, bùnéng yòng.

This piece of wood is too short to use.

这是我的底线，不能再退了。

Zhè shì wǒ de dǐxiàn, bùnéng zài tuìle.

This is my bottom line, and I can't give any more ground.

这条鱼不能吃了。

Zhè tiáo yú bùnéng chīle.

This fish is not fit to eat.

这栋楼是商用的，不能住人。

Zhè dòng lóu shì shāngyòng de, bùnéng zhù rén.

This building is commercial, so no one can live in it.

这样的词语不能对孩子说。

Zhèyàng de cíyǔ bùnéng duì háizi shuō.

You shouldn't use expressions like that with children.

这样的话我不能和你一起去。

Zhèyàng dehuà wǒ bùnéng hé nǐ yìqǐ qù.

Such being the case, I can not go with you.

这水不能喝。

Zhè shuǐ bùnéng hē.

This water cannot be drunk.

这片草地不能再放牧了。

Zhè piàn cǎodì bùnéng zài fàngmùle.

This grassland can't be grazed any more.

这种事不能再继续发生。

Zhèzhǒng shì bùnéng zài jìxù fāshēng.

This can't continue happening.

这种纸不能用于打印。

Zhèzhǒng zhǐ bùnéng yòngyú dǎyìn.

This kind of paper can't be used for printing.

这笔钱不能随便动用。

Zhè bǐ qián bùnéng suíbiàn dòngyòng.

This money can't be used just as you please.

这笔钱是专项经费，不能乱用。

Zhè bǐ qián shì zhuānxiàng jīngfèi, bùnéng luàn yòng.

This money is a dedicated fund and can't be used carelessly.

这辆试验车还不能上街开。

Zhè liàng shìyàn chē hái bùnéng shàngjiē kāi.

This experimental car can't be driven on the street yet.

这辆车的线路坏了，不能开。

Zhè liàng chē de xiànlù huàile, bùnéng kāi.

This vehicle's wiring is faulty, so it can't be driven.

这里不能停车。

Zhèlǐ bùnéng tíngchē.

You can't park here.