Sentence Pattern: Verb + 不下

To talk about whether or not something can happen or is possible, potential complements are used. One of the most common is 不下（bú xià）. This is used to talk about something will not fit.

Structure

Object + （Subject）+ Verb + 不下

The sentence could also be arranged with the object first (a topic）.

Examples

Zhè jiān fánɡjiān tài xiǎo，sānshí ɡè rén zuò bú xià。

这间房间太小，三十个人坐不下。

This room is too small. 30 people can't fit in here.

zhème duō xínɡli， Wǒ yí ɡè rén ná bú xià。

这么多行李，我一个人拿不下。

I can't take this luggage all by myself.

Shūɡuìtàixiǎo， zhème duō shū fànɡ bú xià 。

书柜太小，这么多书放不下。

This bookcase is too small to keep this many books.

Fàntàiduō，wǒmén chī bú xià。

饭太多，我们吃不下。

There's so much food. We can't eat all of it.

I'm glad you told me that. If I had heard the sentence "饭太多，我们吃不下" I would have thought it meant "There is too much food, we can't keep it down."

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