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Expressing "no" (noun) "to" (verb) with 无...可... ("wu2... ke3...")

Expressing "no" (noun) "to" (verb) with 无...可... ("wu2... ke3...")

无 wú

Grammar

HSK 4

Structure

无 + Noun + 可 + Verb

Translations

Definition

“无...可...”是汉语中一种常见结构，表示“没有……可以……”，强调缺乏某种条件或可能性。

The pattern '无...可...' is a common Chinese structure meaning 'no [noun] to [verb]', emphasizing the lack of something to do or the impossibility of an action.

Usage

用于名词和动词之间，形成“无 + 名词 + 可 + 动词”的结构，表示没有某物可以做某事。通常名词和动词都是单音节字。

Used between a noun and a verb to form '无 + noun + 可 + verb', indicating that there is no [noun] to [verb]. The noun and verb are typically monosyllabic characters.

Examples

1 他无话可说，只能沉默。（He has nothing to say, can only remain silent.）
2 面对困难，我们无计可施。（Facing difficulties, we have no strategy to use.）
3 她的才华无人可比。（Her talent is incomparable; literally: no one can compare.）
4 周末无事可做，只好在家看书。（On weekends, with nothing to do, I just read at home.）
5 他无处可去，只好在公园待了一晚。（He had nowhere to go, so he stayed in the park for a night.）

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