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"can't be sure" Chinese-English Dictionary

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Chinese Pinyin Translation
不好说 不好說 bù hǎo shuō hard to say / can't be sure / difficult to speak about / unpleasant to say
Chinese Pinyin Translation
水能载舟，亦能覆舟 水能載舟，亦能覆舟 shuǐ néng zài zhōu , yì néng fù zhōu lit. water may keep the boat afloat but may also sink it (proverb) / fig. the people can support a regime or overturn it / if sth is used properly, one can benefit from it, otherwise it can do harm / things can be double-edged
稳拿 穩拿 wěn ná a sure gain / sth one is sure to obtain
只有 zhǐ yǒu only have ... / there is only ... / (used in combination with 才[cai2]) it is only if one ... (that one can ...) (Example: 只有通過治療才能痊愈|只有通过治疗才能痊愈[zhi3 you3 tong1 guo4 zhi4 liao2 cai2 neng2 quan2 yu4] "the only way to cure it is with therapy") / it is only ... (who ...) (Example: 只有男性才有此需要[zhi3 you3 nan2 xing4 cai2 you3 ci3 xu1 yao4] "only men would have such a requirement") / (used to indicate that one has no alternative) one can only (do a certain thing) (Example: 只有屈服[zhi3 you3 qu1 fu2] "the only thing you can do is give in") syn
均可 jūn kě all are OK / both are OK / all can / both can / also can
垃圾箱 lā jī xiāng rubbish can / garbage can / trash can syn
鱼与熊掌 魚與熊掌 yú yǔ xióng zhǎng lit. the fish and the bear's paw, you can't have both at the same time (idiom, from Mencius) / fig. you must choose one or the other / you can't always get everything you want / you can't have your cake and eat it
鱼与熊掌不可兼得 魚與熊掌不可兼得 yú yǔ xióng zhǎng bù kě jiān dé lit. the fish and the bear's paw, you can't have both at the same time (idiom, from Mencius) / fig. you must choose one or the other / you can't always get everything you want / you can't have your cake and eat it
没错 沒錯 méi cuò that's right / sure! / rest assured! / that's good / can't go wrong syn
说不定 說不定 shuō bu dìng can't say for sure / maybe syn
会 會 huì can / to have the skill / to know how to / to be likely to / to be sure to / to meet / to get together / meeting / gathering / (suffix) union / group / association / (bound form) a moment (Taiwan pr. [hui3]) syn
何以见得 何以見得 hé yǐ jiàn dé how can one be sure?
即可 jí kě equivalent to 就可以 / can then (do sth) / can immediately (do sth) / (do sth) and that will suffice
不得不 bù dé bù have no choice or option but to / cannot but / have to / can't help it / can't avoid syn
能否 néng fǒu whether or not / can it or can't it / is it possible? syn
不禁 bù jīn can't help (doing sth) / can't refrain from syn
能不能 néng bù néng can or cannot? / Is it possible? / Can we do it?
可达 可達 kě dá can reach / can get as high as / up to
堪称 堪稱 kān chēng can be rated as / can be said to be
来得及 來得及 lái de jí to have enough time / can do it in time / can still make it syn
禁不住 jīn bu zhù can't help it / can't bear it syn
垃圾桶 lā jī tǒng rubbish bin / trash can / garbage can / Taiwan pr. [le4 se4 tong3] syn
赶不上 趕不上 gǎn bù shàng can't keep up with / can't catch up with / cannot overtake
办不到 辦不到 bàn bu dào impossible / can't be done / no can do / unable to accomplish syn
摸不着 摸不著 mō bu zháo can't touch / can't reach / (fig.) unable to get a grasp of
过得去 過得去 guò dé qù lit. can pass through (an opening) / fig. can get by (in life) / tolerably well / not too bad / How are you getting by? / How's life? syn
易拉罐 yì lā guàn pull-top can / easy-open can (with ring-pull)
可歌可泣 kě gē kě qì lit. you can sing or you can cry (idiom) / fig. deeply moving / happy and sad / inspiring and tragic syn
可遇不可求 kě yù bù kě qiú can be discovered but not sought (idiom) / one can only come across such things serendipitously
人不可貌相 rén bù kě mào xiàng you can't judge a person by appearance (idiom) / you can't judge a book by its cover / often in combination 人不可貌相，海水不可斗量[ren2 bu4 ke3 mao4 xiang4 , hai3 shui3 bu4 ke3 dou3 liang2]
饥不择食 飢不擇食 jī bù zé shí when hungry, you can't pick what you eat (idiom) / beggars can't be choosers / When matters are urgent, don't spend time choosing alternatives. syn
人定胜天 人定勝天 rén dìng shèng tiān man can conquer nature (idiom) / human wisdom can prevail over nature
有钱能使鬼推磨 有錢能使鬼推磨 yǒu qián néng shǐ guǐ tuī mò lit. with money, you can get a devil to turn a millstone (idiom) / fig. with money, you can get anything done / money talks
本性难移 本性難移 běn xìng nán yí It is hard to change one's essential nature (idiom). You can't change who you are. / Can the leopard change his spots? (Jeremiah 13:23)
燕雀安知鸿鹄之志 燕雀安知鴻鵠之志 yàn què ān zhī hóng hú zhī zhì lit. can the sparrow and swallow know the will of the great swan? (idiom) / fig. how can we small fry predict the ambitions of the great?
能伸能屈 néng shēn néng qū can bow and submit, or can stand tall (idiom, from Book of Changes) / ready to give and take / flexible
能屈能伸 néng qū néng shēn can bow and submit, or can stand tall (idiom, from Book of Changes) / ready to give and take / flexible syn
众口铄金 眾口鑠金 zhòng kǒu shuò jīn lit. public opinion is powerful enough to melt metal (idiom) / fig. public clamor can obscure the actual truth / mass spreading of rumors can confuse right and wrong
人不可貌相，海水不可斗量 rén bù kě mào xiàng , hǎi shuǐ bù kě dǒu liáng you can't judge a person by appearance, just as you can't measure the sea with a pint pot (idiom)
可分 kě fēn can be divided (into parts) / one can distinguish (several types)
喷水壶 噴水壺 pēn shuǐ hú watering can / sprinkling can
大丈夫能屈能伸 dà zhàng fu néng qū néng shēn A leader can submit or can stand tall as required. / ready to give and take / flexible
寸金难买寸光阴 寸金難買寸光陰 cùn jīn nán mǎi cùn guāng yīn An ounce of gold can't buy you an interval of time (idiom) / Money can't buy you time. / Time is precious.
师父领进门，修行在个人 師父領進門，修行在個人 shī fu lǐng jìn mén , xiū xíng zài gè rén the master leads you to the door, the rest is up to you / you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink
星星之火，可以燎原 xīng xing zhī huǒ , kě yǐ liáo yuán a single spark can start a huge blaze (idiom) / an insignificant cause can have a massive effect
江山易改，本性难移 江山易改，本性難移 jiāng shān yì gǎi , běn xìng nán yí it is easier to change mountains and rivers than to alter one's character (idiom) / you can't change who you are / Can the leopard change his spots?
燕雀焉知鸿鹄之志 燕雀焉知鴻鵠之志 yàn què yān zhī hóng gǔ zhī zhì lit. can the sparrow and swallow know the will of the great swan? (idiom) / fig. how can we small fry predict the ambitions of the great?
牵马到河易，强马饮水难 牽馬到河易，強馬飲水難 qiān mǎ dào hé yì , qiáng mǎ yǐn shuǐ nán You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. (idiom)
玩儿不转 玩兒不轉 wán r bù zhuàn can't handle it / can't find any way (of doing sth) / not up to the task
跑了和尚，跑不了寺 pǎo le hé shàng , pǎo bù liǎo sì the monk can run away, but the temple won't run with him (idiom) / you can run this time, but you'll have to come back / I'll get you sooner or later
跑了和尚，跑不了庙 跑了和尚，跑不了廟 pǎo le hé shàng , pǎo bù liǎo miào the monk can run away, but the temple won't run with him (idiom) / you can run this time, but you'll have to come back / I'll get you sooner or later
跑得了和尚，跑不了庙 跑得了和尚，跑不了廟 pǎo dé liǎo hé shàng , pǎo bù liǎo miào the monk can run away, but the temple won't run with him (idiom) / you can run this time, but you'll have to come back / I'll get you sooner or later
易开罐 易開罐 yì kāi guàn (Tw) pull-top can / easy-open can (with ring-pull)
躲不起 duǒ bu qǐ can't avoid / can't hide from / unavoidable
又要马儿跑，又要马儿不吃草 又要馬兒跑，又要馬兒不吃草 yòu yào mǎ r pǎo , yòu yào mǎ r bù chī cǎo lit. you can't expect the horse to run fast but not let it graze (idiom) / fig. you can't have your cake and eat it, too
在家千日好，出门一时难 在家千日好，出門一時難 zài jiā qiān rì hǎo , chū mén yī shí nán lit. at home, one can spend a thousand days in comfort, but spending a day away from home can be challenging (idiom) / fig. there's no place like home
牵马到河易，强马饮水难 牽馬到河易，強馬飲水難 qiān mǎ dào hé yì , qiǎng mǎ yǐn shuǐ nán You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. (idiom)
行万里路，读万卷书 行萬里路，讀萬卷書 xíng wàn lǐ lù , dú wàn juàn shū Knowledge comes from books and from experience of the world. (idiom) / Learn as much as you can and do all you can.
千里马常有，而伯乐不常有 千里馬常有，而伯樂不常有 qiān lǐ mǎ cháng yǒu , ér bó lè bù cháng yǒu lit. there are many swift horses, but very few who can spot them (idiom) / fig. many have talent, but few can recognize talent when they see it
跑了和尚跑不了庙 跑了和尚跑不了廟 pǎo le hé shàng pǎo bù liǎo miào the monk can run away, but the temple won't run with him (idiom) / you can run this time, but you'll have to come back / I'll get you sooner or later / also written 跑得了和尚，跑不了廟|跑得了和尚，跑不了庙[pao3 de2 liao3 he2 shang4 , pao3 bu4 liao3 miao4]
怎一个愁字了得 怎一個愁字了得 zěn yī gè chóu zì liǎo dé (last line of the poem 聲聲慢|声声慢[Sheng1 sheng1 Man4] by Song poet Li Qingzhao 李清照[Li3 Qing1 zhao4]) / how can it be expressed in one word, "sorrow"? / how can words express such sadness?
看得出 kàn de chū can see / can tell syn
绷不住 繃不住 bēng bu zhù (Internet slang) can't contain oneself / unable to bear / can't help (doing sth)
玩不起 wán bu qǐ can't afford to play / (fig.) can't accept it when one loses
小作怡情，大作伤身 小作怡情，大作傷身 xiǎo zuō - yí qíng , dà zuō - shāng shēn an occasional display of histrionics can add a playful element to a relationship, but overdoing it can lead to a breakup (admonishment derived from the saying 小酌怡情，大酌傷身|小酌怡情，大酌伤身[xiao3zhuo2-yi2qing2, da4zhuo2-shang1shen1])
安得 ān dé (literary) How can one get...? / Oh, if only there were... (rhetorical wish) / (literary) Is it possible that...? / How can this be? (interrogative disbelief)
确定 確定 què dìng definite / certain / fixed / to fix (on sth) / to determine / to be sure / to ensure / to make certain / to ascertain / to clinch / to recognize / to confirm / OK (on computer dialog box) syn
保险 保險 bǎo xiǎn insurance / to insure / safe / secure / be sure / be bound to / CL:份[fen4] syn
果然 guǒ rán really / sure enough / as expected / if indeed syn
把握 bǎ wò to grasp (also fig.) / to seize / to hold / assurance / certainty / sure (of the outcome) syn
无疑 無疑 wú yí undoubtedly / without doubt / for sure syn
务必 務必 wù bì must / to need to / to be sure to syn
必定 bì dìng to be bound to / to be sure to syn
果真 guǒ zhēn really / as expected / sure enough / if indeed... / if it's really... syn
确信 確信 què xìn to be convinced / to be sure / to firmly believe / to be positive that / definite news syn
看准 看準 kàn zhǔn to observe and make sure / to check
胜算 勝算 shèng suàn odds of success / stratagem that ensures success / to be sure of success
切切 qiè qiè urgently / eagerly / worried / (urge sb to) be sure to / it is absolutely essential to (follow the above instruction) syn
见得 見得 jiàn dé to seem / to appear / (in a negative or interrogative sentence) to be sure
认准 認準 rèn zhǔn to identify clearly / to make sure of / to believe firmly
切莫 qiè mò you must not / Please don't... / be sure not to / on no account (do it) syn
不痛不痒 不痛不癢 bù tòng bù yǎng lit. doesn't hurt, doesn't tickle (idiom) / sth is wrong, but not quite sure what / fig. not getting to any matter of substance / scratching the surface / superficial / perfunctory syn
料定 liào dìng certain / to know for sure
朝不保夕 zhāo bù bǎo xī at dawn, not sure of lasting to evening (idiom) / precarious state / imminent crisis / living from hand to mouth syn
准保 準保 zhǔn bǎo certainly / for sure syn
固 gù hard / strong / solid / sure / assuredly / undoubtedly / of course / indeed / admittedly syn
后会有期 後會有期 hòu huì yǒu qī I'm sure we'll meet again some day. (idiom) / Hope to see you again. syn
朝不虑夕 朝不慮夕 zhāo bù lǜ xī at dawn, not sure of lasting to evening (idiom) / precarious state / imminent crisis / living from hand to mouth
安如磐石 ān rú pán shí as solid as rock (idiom) / as sure as houses
不见不散 不見不散 bù jiàn bù sàn lit. Even if we don't see each other, don't give up and leave (idiom) / fig. Be sure to wait! / See you there!
敲钉钻脚 敲釘鑽腳 qiāo dīng zuān jiǎo to make doubly sure (idiom)
满有谱 滿有譜 mǎn yǒu pǔ to have a clearcut idea / to have firm guidelines / to have confidence / to be sure / to be certain
管取 guǎn qǔ sure
万安 萬安 wàn ān completely secure / a sure thing / rest assured
虎父无犬子 虎父無犬子 hǔ fù wú quǎn zǐ lit. father a lion, son cannot be a dog (honorific) / With a distinguished father such as you, the son is sure to do well. / like father, like son
誙 kēng (arch.) definitely / sure!
黄鼠狼给鸡拜年 黃鼠狼給雞拜年 huáng shǔ láng gěi jī bài nián Beware of suspicious folk bearing gifts, they are sure to be ill-intentioned. (idiom)
左券 zuǒ quàn a sure thing / a certainty / copy of a contract held by a creditor syn
不见兔子不撒鹰 不見兔子不撒鷹 bù jiàn tù zi bù sā yīng you don't release the hawk until you've seen the hare (idiom) / one doesn't act before one is sure to succeed
未必见得 未必見得 wèi bì jiàn dé not necessarily / that's not sure
The four tones The four tones of Mandarin Pitch over time: tone 1 high and level (red), tone 2 rising (orange), tone 3 falling then rising (green), tone 4 falling (blue). tone 1 tone 2 tone 3 tone 4 Time Pitch

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