不住

bùzhù

particle #24,084

Meanings

1 unable to (firmly grasp, hold back, recall, etc.)
2 continuously
3 repeatedly
4 incessantly

Characters

not; un-; (negation)

to stay; to hold; to stop (complement of result)

Examples

她激动得说不住话。

Tā jīdòng de shuō bù zhù huà.

She was so excited she couldn't stop talking.

他忍不住笑了起来。

Tā rěn bù zhù xiào le qǐlái.

He couldn't help but burst out laughing.

风太大，他抓不住帽子。

Fēng tài dà, tā zhuā bù zhù màozi.

The wind was too strong and he couldn't keep hold of his hat.

Tips

grammar

不住 functions as a verb complement expressing inability to sustain or contain an action. It follows verbs: 抓不住 (can't grasp/hold), 忍不住 (can't resist/hold back), 站不住 (can't stay standing). Distinct from the adverbial use meaning 'incessantly' (e.g. 不住地点头 = nodding continuously).

Stroke Order

不 bù

住 zhù