过不去 (guò bu qù) — unable to get through; cannot pass; to make things difficult for someone; to embarrass

Definition

过不去 has two unrelated senses: literally 'cannot get through' (a narrow road, a barrier), and figuratively 'to make things awkward for someone' — stronger and more pointed than the softer 为难.

verb
unable to get throughcannot passto make things difficult for someoneto embarrass

Examples

  • 过不去
    Zhè tiáo lù tài zhǎi, qì chē guò bu qù.
    This road is too narrow; the car can't get through.
  • 过不去
    Nǐ bié zǒng shì gēn tā guò bu qù, tā qí shí hěn nǔ lì.
    Don't always make things difficult for him; he's actually working hard.
  • 过不去
    Zhè jiàn shì wǒ méi zuò hǎo, xīn lǐ yì zhí guò bu qù.
    I didn't do this well, and I've been feeling uneasy about it.

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