说不过去

說不過去

shuōbuguòqù

phrase #25,718

Meanings

1 cannot be justified
2 inexcusable
3 hard to explain away
4 unacceptable

Characters

to speak, to say

to pass, to get through

to go (directional complement)

Examples

HSK 3

你迟到这么久，说不过去吧。

Nǐ chídào zhème jiǔ, shuōbuguòqù ba.

You're so late - that's really hard to justify.

HSK 4

这件事不管怎么解释都说不过去。

Zhè jiàn shì bùguǎn zěnme jiěshì dōu shuōbuguòqù.

No matter how you explain it, this matter just cannot be justified.

HSK 5

他的行为说不过去，大家都很生气。

Tā de xíngwéi shuōbuguòqù, dàjiā dōu hěn shēngqì.

His behavior cannot be justified, and everyone is angry.

Tips

usage

说不过去 literally means 'cannot talk past it' - the logic or excuse fails to pass muster. Compare 说得过去 (acceptable, passable) which is its positive counterpart.

Stroke Order

说 shuō

不 bù

过 guò

去 qù