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Expressing inability to bear something with 不忍 (bùrěn)
Negation
Wishes & Desires
Structure
不忍 + Verb Phrase
Explanation
The verb phrase 不忍 (bùrěn) means "cannot bear to" or "cannot endure." It expresses a feeling of reluctance or heartache about doing or witnessing something painful. It is often followed by a verb phrase describing the unbearable situation, as in 不忍离开 (cannot bear to leave).
Examples
看到小猫受伤的样子，她不忍离开。
Kàn dào xiǎo māo shòushāng de yàngzi, tā bùrěn líkāi.
Seeing the injured kitten, she couldn't bear to leave.
他不忍看到孩子们挨饿，把自己的饭分给了他们。
Tā bùrěn kàn dào háizimen ái è, bǎ zìjǐ de fàn fēn gěi le tāmen.
He couldn't bear to see the children go hungry, so he shared his own food with them.
这些照片太珍贵了，我不忍扔掉。
Zhèxiē zhàopiàn tài zhēnguì le, wǒ bùrěn rēng diào.
These photos are too precious — I can't bear to throw them away.