不能自主

bùnéngzìzhǔ

phrase

Meanings

1 unable to act on one's own will
2 not one's own master
3 having no say in one's own affairs

Characters

decide / master

Examples

HSK 1

病后他身体不能自主。

Bìng hòu tā shēntǐ bùnéngzìzhǔ.

After his illness he couldn't control his own body.

HSK 7-9

他的婚事不能自主，全由父母决定。

Tā de hūnshì bùnéngzìzhǔ, quán yóu fùmǔ juédìng.

He had no say in his own marriage; his parents decided everything.

Tips

usage

Covers both social autonomy (decisions made for you) and physical control (body/limbs failing). Related chengyu: 身不由己 (at the mercy of circumstances).

Stroke Order

不 bù

能 néng

自 zì

主 zhǔ