刹不住

剎不住
shābuzhù
phrase

Meanings

  1. 1 unable to brake
  2. 2 unable to stop
  3. 3 can't be reined in

Examples

HSK 3
Tā yī xiào qǐlai jiù shābuzhù.
Once he starts laughing, he can't stop.
HSK 5
Chēsù tài kuài, gēnběn shābuzhù.
The car was going too fast - there was no way to stop it.

Tips

grammar
This is the V-不-C potential complement pattern: 刹 (brake) + 不 + 住 (hold/stay). 住 here means 'come to a halt'. The affirmative form is 刹得住 (can stop).
usage
Used both literally (vehicles) and figuratively (laughter, anger, gossip, momentum). 刹 is also pronounced chà in Buddhist words like 古刹 (ancient temple) - different word.

Stroke Order

刹 shā
不 bù
住 zhù