养不起 yǎngbuqǐ cannot afford to support Definitions Defs Origin Strokes Stroke Words Sentences Sents 养 養 yǎng verb to support to provide for one's family; to bring up children不 bu particle [potential] Used between a verb and its result to show that the action cannot achieve that result; used as the negative form of the 得 de potential construction起 qǐ particle [capability] used after a verb and 得 de or 不 bù to show whether one can afford, endure, or reach a certain standard