bù chéng
won't do
unable to
(at the end of a rhetorical question) can that be?
nán bù chéng
Is it possible that ... ?
hèn tiě bù chéng gāng
lit. to hate iron for not becoming steel
to feel resentful towards sb for failing to meet expectations and impatient to see improvement (idiom)
bù chéng yàng zi
shapeless
deformed
ruined
beyond recognition
(of a person) reduced to a shadow
gāo bù chéng dī bù jiù
can't reach the high or accept the low (idiom); not good enough for a high post, but too proud to take a low one
méi yǒu guī ju , bù chéng fāng yuán
without rules, nothing can be done (idiom); one must follow some rules
tōu jī bù chéng shí bǎ mǐ
lit. to try to steal a chicken only to end up losing the rice used to lure it (idiom)
fig. to try to gain an advantage only to end up worse off
to go for wool and come back shorn
bù chéng tǐ tǒng
not according with decorum (idiom); scandalous
bad form
unacceptable behavior
bù dǎ bù chéng cái
spare the rod and spoil the child (idiom)
bù dǎ bù chéng xiāng shí
don't fight, won't make friends (idiom); an exchange of blows may lead to friendship
bài bù chéng jūn
The army is completely routed. (idiom)
méi yǒu guī ju , bù chéng fāng yuán
without rules, nothing can be done (idiom); one must follow some rules
hèn tiě bù chéng gāng
lit. to hate iron for not becoming steel
to feel resentful towards sb for failing to meet expectations and impatient to see improvement (idiom)
yè bù chéng mián
to be unable to sleep at night
bù dǎ bù chéng qì
spare the rod and spoil the child (idiom)
bù chéng huà
see 不像話|不像话[bu4 xiang4 hua4]
bù chéng cái
worthless
good-for-nothing
bù chéng gōng biàn chéng rén
to succeed or die trying (idiom)
yī kǒu chī bù chéng pàng zi
lit. you cannot get fat with only one mouthful (proverb)
fig. learn to walk before you run
dú mù bù chéng lín
a lone tree does not make a forest (idiom)
one cannot accomplish much on one's own
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