欲罢不能

欲罷不能

yùbà-bùnéng

idiom #32,435

Meanings

1 to want to stop but be unable to (idiom)
2 unable to tear oneself away; hooked

Characters

to want; desire

Examples

HSK 4

她对研究着了迷，常常欲罢不能。

Tā duì yánjiū zháolemí, chángcháng yùbà-bùnéng.

She's obsessed with her research and often can't pull herself away.

HSK 6

这部剧太精彩了，让我看得欲罢不能。

Zhè bù jù tài jīngcǎi le, ràng wǒ kàn de yùbà-bùnéng.

This show is so good I just can't stop watching.

Tips

history

From 《论语·子罕》: Yan Hui says of Confucius's teaching, 博我以文，约我以礼，欲罢不能 - 'He broadens me with learning, restrains me with ritual; I want to stop but cannot.' Originally a statement of scholarly devotion, now used for any compelling activity.

Stroke Order

欲 yù

罢 bà

不 bù

能 néng