Verb phrasesHSK 6
Expressing something is "not worth doing" with 不屑
Use 不屑(于) before a verb to indicate that someone disdains to do something, viewing it as beneath them or worthless. 不屑于 carries a more formal, literary tone, while 不屑 itself is common in both spoken and written Chinese. The verb phrase should always represent an action the subject finds unworthy.
Structure
Subj. + 不屑 + Verb / Verb Phrase
Subj. + 不屑于 + Verb / Verb Phrase
more literary
Examples
- 他不屑回答这个问题。Tā bùxiè huídá zhège wèntí.He disdains to answer this question.
- 她不屑于和他们争论。Tā bùxièyú hé tāmen zhēnglùn.She considers it beneath her dignity to argue with them.
- 我们不屑做这种事。Wǒmen bùxiè zuò zhè zhǒng shì.We disdain doing this kind of thing.
- 他不屑于解释自己的行为。Tā bùxièyú jiěshì zìjǐ de xíngwéi.He doesn't bother to explain his own actions.
- 那些专家不屑考虑这个提议。Nàxiē zhuānjiā bùxiè kǎolǜ zhège tíyì.Those experts disdain considering this proposal.