bùxíng: 不行 - No, Won't do, Not allowed, Terrible

• Keywords: buxing, bu xing, 不行, how to say no in Chinese, Chinese for not allowed, won't do, not okay, is buxing rude, 不行 meaning, 不行 vs 不可以, Chinese negation, HSK 2 vocabulary
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 不行 (bùxíng), one of the most common and versatile ways to express negation. This page breaks down its core meanings, from a simple “no” or “won't do” to a strong “not allowed” or even an adjective meaning “terrible.” Discover the cultural nuances, practical uses in conversation, and common mistakes to avoid, helping you master this fundamental term and sound more natural in Mandarin Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): bùxíng
• Part of Speech: Verb, Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 2
• Concise Definition: A direct refusal or prohibition, meaning “no,” “won't do,” “not allowed,” “not okay,” or used as an adjective for “terrible” or “no good.”
• In a Nutshell: `不行` is your go-to, all-purpose “no.” It's a clear and direct way to reject a proposal, state that something is not permissible, or describe something as being of very poor quality. Think of it as the Chinese equivalent of saying “That won't work,” “You can't do that,” or “It's awful.” While direct, its level of politeness depends heavily on the context and your tone of voice.

• 不 (bù): This is the fundamental character for negation in Chinese. It simply means “not” or “no.” It's a building block for hundreds of negative words and phrases.
• 行 (xíng): This character is rich with meaning, but in this context, it means “to be okay,” “to be permissible,” “to work,” or “to go.” Its ancient form is said to depict a crossroads, implying movement, capability, and things proceeding as they should.
• When you combine 不 (not) with 行 (okay/workable), you get the literal meaning “not okay” or “not workable.” This simple combination is powerful and covers all the modern uses of the word.

`不行` is a fascinating case study in Chinese communication, which is often stereotyped as being exclusively indirect. While it's true that preserving harmony and face are crucial, `不行` provides a tool for clear, unambiguous refusal when necessary. Compared to Western culture, where a blunt “no” can sometimes be seen as rude without further explanation, a direct `不行` in China can be perfectly acceptable, especially when responding to an impractical or unreasonable request. It's seen as a statement of fact: “This is not a workable situation.” However, context is everything. Saying `不行` to your boss, an elder, or in a delicate social situation can be too blunt and cause the other person to lose face. In these scenarios, a Chinese speaker might opt for a softer, more indirect refusal, like “我考虑一下 (wǒ kǎolǜ yīxià - I'll think about it)” or “这个有点儿难 (zhège yǒudiǎnr nán - This is a bit difficult).” The choice between using a direct `不行` and a softer alternative is a key social skill that demonstrates cultural awareness.

`不行` is incredibly common in daily life. Its meaning is heavily influenced by tone and context.

This is the most common usage. It's a straightforward rejection of a request, suggestion, or plan.

• “Can you help me move this weekend?” → “不行，我有事。(Bùxíng, wǒ yǒushì.)” - “No, I have plans.”
• A firm, quick `不行!` is a strong rejection. A slower, more hesitant `不…行…` can convey regret or sympathy.

Used to state that something is against the rules or not permitted. It's often seen on signs or spoken by people in authority.

• “Can I smoke here?” → “不行！这里禁止吸烟。(Bùxíng! Zhèlǐ jìnzhǐ xīyān.)” - “Not allowed! Smoking is prohibited here.”

When used to describe a person's skill, the quality of an object, or a situation, it means “terrible,” “awful,” or “no good.”

• “How was the movie?” → “太不行了，别去看。(Tài bùxíng le, bié qù kàn.)” - “It was terrible, don't go see it.”
• “How is my Chinese?” → “你的中文不行，得好好练习。(Nǐ de Zhōngwén bùxíng, děi hǎohǎo liànxí.)” - “Your Chinese is no good, you have to practice hard.”

Often paired with `了 (le)`, `不行了 (bùxíng le)` expresses that you've reached your physical or mental limit.

• “我跑不动了，真的不行了。(Wǒ pǎo bú dòng le, zhēn de bùxíng le.)” - “I can't run anymore, I really can't go on.”

• Example 1:
  • Chinese: 你想现在就走？那不行，我们得等他回来。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ xiǎng xiànzài jiù zǒu? Nà bùxíng, wǒmen děi děng tā huílái.
  • English: You want to leave now? That won't do; we have to wait for him to come back.
  • Analysis: Here, `不行` is used to reject a suggestion or plan. It's a statement of impracticality.
• Example 2:
  • Chinese: 老师，我可以在教室里吃东西吗？—— 不行。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī, wǒ kěyǐ zài jiàoshì lǐ chī dōngxi ma? —— Bùxíng.
  • English: Teacher, can I eat in the classroom? — No, you can't.
  • Analysis: A clear, authoritative prohibition from a person in charge (a teacher). It means “it is not allowed.”
• Example 3:
  • Chinese: 这家餐厅的服务太不行了，我们再也不来了。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā cāntīng de fúwù tài bùxíng le, wǒmen zài yě bù lái le.
  • English: The service at this restaurant is terrible; we're never coming back.
  • Analysis: `不行` is used as an adjective to describe the poor quality of the service. `太…了 (tài…le)` is a common structure to add emphasis, meaning “too…” or “so…”.
• Example 4:
  • Chinese: 我觉得我的中文水平还不行，需要更多练习。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ juéde wǒ de Zhōngwén shuǐpíng hái bùxíng, xūyào gèng duō liànxí.
  • English: I feel my Chinese level is still not good enough; I need more practice.
  • Analysis: A self-critical use of `不行` to describe one's own ability or skill level as being poor or insufficient.
• Example 5:
  • Chinese: 快走！再不走就来不及了，不行！
  • Pinyin: Kuài zǒu! Zài bù zǒu jiù láibují le, bùxíng!
  • English: Let's go! If we don't leave now we'll be late, this is not good!
  • Analysis: In this context, `不行` expresses urgency and that the current situation is becoming critical or unacceptable.
• Example 6:
  • Chinese: 你这么做是不行的，会伤害到别人。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ zhème zuò shì bùxíng de, huì shānghài dào biérén.
  • English: You can't do it like this; it will hurt other people.
  • Analysis: `不行` is used here to criticize an action, framing it as morally or socially unacceptable. The structure `是…的 (shì…de)` adds emphasis.
• Example 7:
  • Chinese: 我今天跑了十公里，累得不行了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ jīntiān pǎo le shí gōnglǐ, lèi de bùxíng le.
  • English: I ran 10 kilometers today, I'm so tired I can't take it anymore.
  • Analysis: The phrase `不行了 (bùxíng le)` specifically indicates reaching a limit, in this case, physical exhaustion.
• Example 8:
  • Chinese: 光道歉是不行的，你必须做出补偿。
  • Pinyin: Guāng dàoqiàn shì bùxíng de, nǐ bìxū zuòchū bǔcháng.
  • English: Just apologizing is not enough; you must provide compensation.
  • Analysis: `不行` here means “insufficient” or “not acceptable.” It rejects a proposed solution as being incomplete.
• Example 9:
  • Chinese: 这个方法到底行不行啊？
  • Pinyin: Zhège fāngfǎ dàodǐ xíngbùxíng a?
  • English: So, does this method work or not?
  • Analysis: This example uses the common A-not-A question format (`行不行`). It's a direct way to ask about the feasibility or acceptability of something.
• Example 10:
  • Chinese: 他看起来脸色很差，是不是身体不行了？
  • Pinyin: Tā kànqǐlái liǎnsè hěn chà, shìbúshì shēntǐ bùxíng le?
  • English: He looks very pale, is his health failing?
  • Analysis: Here, `不行` is used to express concern about someone's health, implying they are very unwell or in a bad state.

• `不行 (bùxíng)` vs. `不可以 (bù kěyǐ)`: This is a key distinction for learners.
  • `不行` is about feasibility or workability. It often implies “it won't work,” “it's impossible,” or “it's no good.”
  • 不可以 (bù kěyǐ) is about permission. It means “you are not allowed” or “you may not.”
  • While they often overlap (e.g., “You can't smoke here” could be both), `不行` can feel stronger and more absolute, while `不可以` focuses purely on the rules.
• Tone is Everything: A sharp `不行!` is a harsh command. A soft, drawn-out `不~~行~~` can show sympathy while still refusing. A flat, neutral `不行` is a simple statement of fact. For English speakers, mastering the tone is key to avoiding sounding unintentionally rude.
• Common Mistake: Describing Absence
  • A common error is to use `不行` to say someone isn't present.
  • Incorrect: 我的老板不行。 (Wǒ de lǎobǎn bùxíng.)
  • This sentence does not mean “My boss isn't here.” It means “My boss is terrible/incompetent.” This is a major insult!
  • Correct: 我的老板不在。 (Wǒ de lǎobǎn búzài.) - My boss is not here/present. Use `不在 (búzài)` to talk about location/presence.

• 行 (xíng) - The direct antonym. Means “okay,” “alright,” “fine,” or “will do.” It's the positive answer to a `行不行?` question.
• 可以 (kěyǐ) - The antonym of `不可以`. Means “can,” “may,” or “able to,” focusing on permission or ability.
• 不可以 (bù kěyǐ) - A very close concept meaning “not allowed” or “may not.” It is more focused on permission than the general workability of `不行`.
• 不行了 (bùxíng le) - A specific phrase meaning “can't take it anymore,” “at one's limit,” or colloquially, “about to die/collapse” from exhaustion or sickness.
• 不好 (bù hǎo) - Means “not good.” It is generally a softer or more specific criticism than `不行`. You might say a dish is `不好吃 (bù hǎochī - not tasty)`, which is less condemning than saying the whole restaurant is `不行`.
• 糟糕 (zāogāo) - A strong synonym for the “terrible” sense of `不行`. It literally means “rotten cake” and is used like “What a mess!” or “This is disastrous!”
• 差 (chà) - Means “poor” or “lacking.” It is often used to describe quality and is a close synonym for the adjectival use of `不行` (e.g., `质量很差 - zhìliàng hěn chà - the quality is very poor`).
• 没门儿 (méiménr) - A very colloquial and strong refusal, literally “no door.” It means “No way!” or “Not a chance!” and is much more informal than `不行`.