<p>“不了” in this context is pronounced "bu4liao3" and means "to be unable to". </p>

<p><strong>比如说：</strong></p>

<p>吃不了 unable to eat</p>

<p>忘不了 unable to forget</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-26T04:38:57.647Z
了 doesn't mean unable to 不了 means unable to.
Mou某
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-26T04:37:30.180Z
2015-04-26T04:39:50.787Z
2015-04-26T04:39:50.787Z
flaudre
<p>In addition to @Flaudre's answer below, which included this:</p>

<p>吃不了 unable to eat
chi bu liao</p>

<p>You can add another 了(this time 'le') to mean 'any more' (or a change of state, from being able to eat to not being able to eat):</p>

<p>我吃不了了 = I can't eat any more. I'm full up. I've had enough.
wo chi bu liao le</p>

<p>了 is a great word!</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-12T15:04:33.310Z
2016-07-12T15:04:33.310Z
David Barnes
<p><a href="http://www.mdbg.net/chindict/chindict.php?page=worddict&amp;wdrst=0&amp;wdqb=%E4%BA%86"><strong>了</strong></a> here is read liǎo which means:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>to finish / to achieve / variant of 瞭｜了 / to understand clearly   -<em>CC-CEDICT</em></p>
</blockquote>

<p>thus </p>

<p><a href="http://www.mdbg.net/chindict/chindict.php?page=worddict&amp;wdrst=0&amp;wdqb=%E4%B8%8D%E4%BA%86"><strong>不了</strong></a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>unable to / without end -<em>CC-CEDICT</em></p>
</blockquote>

<p>忘不了 = can't forget / unforgettable</p>

<p>喝不了 = can't drink / undrinkable</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-26T04:37:07.243Z
2015-04-26T04:37:07.243Z
Mou某
<p>I know that <code>了</code> after a verb means a completion or termination of a certain action, such as:</p>

<blockquote>
  <ul>
  <li>吃飽了<br>
  (I am) full.</li>
  <li>開始了<br>
  (It) has started.</li>
  <li>不動了<br>
  (It) is not moving anymore.</li>
  </ul>
</blockquote>

<p>But what about <code>了</code> in <code>忘不了</code> and <code>喝不了</code>? Is <code>不了</code> an expression, or does each character have a specific meaning in this context? How would <code>忘不了</code> and <code>喝不了</code> be translated? (I suppose it would not be <code>I have not forgotten yet</code> and <code>I have not drunk yet</code>...)</p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

<translation><grammar><meaning><meaning-in-context><expressions>
Meaning of "不了" in "忘不了/喝不了/..."
# Meaning of "不了" in "忘不了/喝不了/..."

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-04-26)

I know that `了` after a verb means a completion or termination of a certain action, such as:

> * 吃飽了  
>   (I am) full.
> * 開始了  
>   (It) has started.
> * 不動了  
>   (It) is not moving anymore.

But what about `了` in `忘不了` and `喝不了`? Is `不了` an expression, or does each character have a specific meaning in this context? How would `忘不了` and `喝不了` be translated? (I suppose it would not be `I have not forgotten yet` and `I have not drunk yet`...)

Thanks in advance!

**Tags:** translation, grammar, meaning, meaning-in-context, expressions


---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-04-26. Score: 9 | Accepted answer

[**了**](http://www.mdbg.net/chindict/chindict.php?page=worddict&wdrst=0&wdqb=%E4%BA%86) here is read liǎo which means:

> to finish / to achieve / variant of 瞭｜了 / to understand clearly -*CC-CEDICT*

thus

[**不了**](http://www.mdbg.net/chindict/chindict.php?page=worddict&wdrst=0&wdqb=%E4%B8%8D%E4%BA%86)

> unable to / without end -*CC-CEDICT*

忘不了 = can't forget / unforgettable

喝不了 = can't drink / undrinkable


---

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-04-26. Score: 2

“不了” in this context is pronounced "bu4liao3" and means "to be unable to".

**比如说：**

吃不了 unable to eat

忘不了 unable to forget

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: 了 doesn't mean unable to 不了 means unable to.  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2016-07-12. Score: 1

In addition to @Flaudre's answer below, which included this:

吃不了 unable to eat
chi bu liao

You can add another 了(this time 'le') to mean 'any more' (or a change of state, from being able to eat to not being able to eat):

我吃不了了 = I can't eat any more. I'm full up. I've had enough.
wo chi bu liao le

了 is a great word!


---

