How to Say ‘You can't’ in Traditional Chinese
你不能
nǐ bù néng
[nǐ bùnéng]
💬 Usage Tip: 不能 is for "cannot / not allowed to," not just simple negation. You can reuse it with other verbs: 你不能進去 "you can't go in" or 我不能喝酒 "I can't drink alcohol."
Phrase Breakdown
你
nǐ
[nǐ]
you
Refers to the second person singular pronoun
你不能走。
You cannot go.
不能
bù néng
[bùnéng]
cannot; not allowed
Indicates prohibition or impossibility
這裡不能拍照。
Photography is not allowed here.
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