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大不了

dà bù liǎo

HSK 7–9

Meaning

  • at worst; if worst comes to worst
  • (usu. in the negative) serious; alarming

Definition

表示最坏的情况，相当于‘至多也不过’；或表示‘没什么了不起’。

Indicates the worst-case scenario, meaning 'at worst' or 'even if'; or means 'nothing big' or 'no big deal'.

Usage

常用于口语，表示对可能发生的最坏情况的让步或表示某事不严重。

Commonly used in spoken language to concede the worst possible outcome or to indicate that something is not serious.

Examples

  • 1 大不了我们重新开始。 (At worst, we start over.)
  • 2 这有什么大不了的？别生气了。 (What's the big deal? Don't be angry.)
  • 3 大不了我赔你钱。 (At worst, I'll pay you back.)
  • 4 他迟到半小时，没什么大不了的。 (He was half an hour late, it's no big deal.)
  • 5 大不了我不干了。 (At worst, I quit.)

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