- 能不能 néngbunéng whether or notphrase used to ask if something is possible or if someone is able to do something
- 不能不 bùnéngbù have tobe forced to; cannot but; must
- 无所不能 wúsuǒbùnéng omnipotentable to do anything; all-powerful or extremely versatile
- 欲罢不能 yùbàbùnéng unable to stopwanting to stop but being unable to do so; to feel an urge to continue or be compelled to carry on with something
- 不能自拔 bùnéngzìbá unable to extricate oneselfUnable to free oneself from a physical situation or location of danger
- 不能自已 bùnéngzìyǐ to be unable to stop oneselfunable to restrain one's own emotions or actions; to be carried away; unable to stop oneself from doing something
- 贫贱不能移 pínjiànbùnéngyí unshaken by povertyto remain true to one's principles and ambitions despite being poor and of low status; often used to describe a person of high integrity
- 富贵不能淫 fùguìbùnéngyín unaffected by wealth and power(idiom) to not be corrupted or confused by money and high social position; to be impervious to the temptations of wealth and status. Originally part of a longer description of a great man in the [[孟子|孟子|meng4 zi3]].
- 恨不能 hènbunéng to wish one couldTo strongly wish to do something that is currently impossible; to be itching to do something; literally, to hate being unable to do something.
- 认识不能 rènshibùnéng agnosiathe loss of the ability to recognize objects, persons, sounds, shapes, or smells; agnosia
- 钱不是万能的，没钱是万万不能的 qiánbùshìwànnéngdeméiqiánshìwànwànbùnéngde money isn't everything but without it you can do nothingmoney is not all-powerful, but without money it is absolutely impossible to get anything done; a common saying about the necessity of money despite its limitations
- 不以规矩，不能成方圆 bùyǐguījubùnéngchéngfāngyuán without rules, nothing can be doneAn idiom from Mencius meaning that without standards or rules, nothing can be accomplished; emphasizes the necessity of following established guidelines.
- 静坐不能 jìngzuòbùnéng akathisiacondition of muscular restlessness and the inability to sit still, often as a side effect of neuroleptic antipsychotic drugs
- 不能够 bùnénggòu cannotto be unable to; cannot
- 不能自制 bùnéngzìzhì to lack self-controlto be unable to control or restrain oneself
- 不能赞一辞 bùnéngzànyīcí unable to improve by a single worddescribes a piece of writing so perfect that no word can be added or deleted
- 不能越雷池一步 bùnéngyuèléichíyībù cannot overstep the limitunable to cross the boundary or venture a single step beyond the restricted area; cannot overstep a set limit
- 书写不能症 shūxiěbùnéngzhèng agraphiaagraphia; the inability to write due to brain injury or disease
- 威武不能屈 wēiwǔbùnéngqū unbowed by forceto remain unyielding even when faced with military force or intimidation
- 巴不能够 bābùnénggòu to look forward toto be eager for; to long for; to look forward to something happening
- 忠孝不能两全 zhōngxiàobùnéngliǎngquán loyalty and filial piety are incompatibleLiterally meaning one cannot satisfy the demands of both loyalty to the state and filial piety to one's parents at the same time; used when a person is forced to choose between duty to their country and duty to their family
