过不去

過不去

guòbuqù

phrase HSK 7 #7,448

Meanings

1 cannot get through
2 to feel sorry
3 to make things difficult for
4 to be hard on oneself

Characters

to pass; to cross

Cannot pass through — literal or figurative.

Examples

这条路太窄了，车过不去。

Zhè tiáo lù tài zhǎi le, chē guòbuqù.

This road is too narrow; the car can't get through.

你别老跟自己过不去。

Nǐ bié lǎo gēn zìjǐ guòbuqù.

Stop being so hard on yourself.

他总是跟我过不去。

Tā zǒngshì gēn wǒ guòbuqù.

He always gives me a hard time.

这件事让他心里过不去。

Zhè jiàn shì ràng tā xīnlǐ guòbuqù.

This matter makes him feel uneasy inside.

Tips

usage

Has multiple meanings depending on context: (1) literally cannot pass through, (2) 跟...过不去 = to give someone a hard time / be at odds with, (3) 心里过不去 = to feel guilty or uneasy.

grammar

This is a potential complement structure: 过 + 不 + 去. The positive form is 过得去 (can get by, passable).

Stroke Order

过 guò

不 bù

去 qù