经不住 (jīng bú zhù) — cannot withstand, cannot bear (pressure, temptation, time, scrutiny, etc.)

Definition

A resultative verb meaning 'unable to withstand / can't resist' a pressure, temptation, or test. Compare 经得起 ('can withstand') for the positive form; contrast with 忍不住, which is about failing to hold back an impulse (emotion, laughter, tears).

verb
cannot withstandcannot bear (pressure, temptation, time, scrutiny, etc.)

Examples

  • 经不住，。
    Tā jīng bú zhù le yòu huò, hái shì mǎi le nà liàng chē.
    He couldn't resist the temptation and still bought that car.
  • 经不住，。
    Zhè zhǒng cái liào jīng bú zhù gāo wēn, róng yì biàn xíng.
    This material can't withstand high temperatures and easily deforms.
  • 经不住，。
    Zhēn xiàng jīng bú zhù shí jiān de kǎo yàn, zuì zhōng huì shuǐ luò shí chū.
    The truth cannot withstand the test of time; it will eventually come to light.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

经jīngbear
不住not hold
不bùnot住zhùhold
偏正Modifier + head

经 means to bear, and 不住 means not holding, together expressing inability to withstand.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 經; 经 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mìsilk; thread
Sound part声符shēngfú
巠
巠jīng經jīng
Same sound today

The traditional form 經 combines 糹 (silk; thread) with 巠, which gives the sound.

Open 经 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The picture in 不 originally showed a flower’s calyx; the “no” sense came later from a related character, not from this picture.

Open 不 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
主
主zhǔ住zhù
Same sound today

住 pairs 亻, the person radical (written fully as 人), with 主, which supplies the sound.

Open 住 →

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