duǎn​bu​liǎo

cannot do without

  1. duǎn nounadjective
    to lack
    to lack; to owe; to be short of something
  2. 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 de potential construction
  3. liǎo particle
    [possibility]
    Used in potential resultative constructions after a verb and de or to indicate whether an action is possible.