liǎo bu dé
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Chinese dictionary
Show pinyin

  • 1

    adj.infmlextraordinary; terrific; wonderful; extreme

    • tǐ zhì gǎi gé shì jiàn liǎo bu dé de dà shì

      体制改革了不得大事

      Reform of the system is a huge matter.

    • shān gōu li tōng le huǒ chē zài dāng dì shì jiàn liǎo bu dé de dà shì

      山沟火车当地了不得大事

      The opening of the railway in the valley was a momentous event.

    • tā kě zhēn liǎo bu dé

      了不得

      He's really terrific.

  • 2

    adj.(of situation) awful; terrible; too serious to manage; dreadful

    • kě liǎo bu dé qì chē bǎ xiǎo hái zhuàng shāng le

      了不得汽车小孩

      How awful, a car injured a child.

    • kě liǎo bu dé tā hūn shuì guò qu le

      了不得昏睡过去

      Oh dear, he has fainted!

    • wēi xiǎn shì yǒu de dàn bù shì nà me liǎo bu dé

      危险那么了不得

      There was danger, but it wasn't so serious.

Word usage

  • Note
    "了不得" is different from "不得了". "不得了" mostly expresses horror, indicating the seriousness of the situation; "了不得" mostly expresses admiration, indicating outstanding performance.