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Keywords:了不起, liaobuqi, liao bu qi, Chinese for amazing, Chinese for incredible, what does liaobuqi mean, how to use liaobuqi, 了不起 meaning, 了不起 vs 厉害, Chinese praise words, sarcastic Chinese phrases.
Summary: Discover the meaning and usage of 了不起 (liǎobuqǐ), a common and powerful Chinese adjective used to express that something or someone is “amazing,” “incredible,” or “extraordinary.” This guide will break down its characters, cultural significance, and practical use in both sincere praise and sarcastic remarks. Learn the crucial difference between 了不起 (liǎobuqǐ) and 厉害 (lìhai), and master its usage with over 10 practical example sentences designed for beginner to intermediate learners.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): liǎo bu qǐ
Part of Speech: Adjective
HSK Level: HSK 4
Concise Definition: Remarkable, amazing, terrific, extraordinary.
In a Nutshell: 了不起 (liǎobuqǐ) is your go-to word for expressing genuine admiration for a significant achievement, skill, or quality. Think of it as a step above a simple “good job.” It implies that the accomplishment is difficult and worthy of great respect. While it's most often a strong and sincere compliment, be aware that context and tone can flip its meaning to biting sarcasm.
Character Breakdown
了 (liǎo): Be careful! This is not the common particle `le`. As liǎo, this character means “to finish,” “to be able to,” or “to comprehend.” It signifies a sense of completion or capability.
不 (bu): The classic negating character, meaning “not” or “no.”
起 (qǐ): Means “to rise,” “to get up,” or “to start.”
When combined, 了不起 (liǎobuqǐ) literally translates to something like “not able to rise from” or “cannot get past it.” The implication is that the achievement or quality is so impressive and significant that one cannot simply “get up” and move on easily; it commands attention and respect. It is extraordinary.
Cultural Context and Significance
In Chinese culture, praise can sometimes be more reserved than in the West. While a casual “great job!” is common, a word like 了不起 carries more weight. It isn't thrown around lightly for minor tasks. It's often used to acknowledge significant effort, perseverance, or a notable talent that sets someone apart.
Compared to the American English word “awesome,” which has become a catch-all for anything mildly positive (e.g., “awesome sandwich”), 了不起 retains a stronger sense of genuine admiration for difficulty overcome. Using it to praise a child for passing a tough exam or an artist for creating a masterpiece shows you recognize the hard work and exceptional skill involved. It reflects a cultural value of respecting effort and significant accomplishment.
Practical Usage in Modern China
了不起 is versatile and used across many contexts, from family conversations to office praise. Its meaning is heavily dependent on context and tone.
Sincere Praise
This is the most common usage. It's a fantastic way to make someone feel truly recognized for their hard work or exceptional character. It's suitable for both formal and informal situations when you want to give a strong, heartfelt compliment.
Sarcastic Usage
With a dismissive or exaggerated tone, 了不起 can be used sarcastically. It's the equivalent of saying, “Oh, you think you're so great, huh?” or “Big deal.” This is common among friends joking around or in arguments.
For example, if someone brags about a very minor accomplishment, you might say: “哦，你了不起啊。” (Ō, nǐ liǎobuqǐ a. - “Wow, you're *so* amazing.”) The tone is everything.
Example Sentences
Example 1:
你能完成这个项目，真是了不起！
Pinyin: Nǐ néng wánchéng zhège xiàngmù, zhēnshi liǎobuqǐ!
English: You were able to finish this project, that's truly amazing!
Analysis: This is a classic example of sincere praise in a professional or academic context. It acknowledges the difficulty and success of the task.
Example 2:
这么小的孩子能画出这么好的画，太了不起了。
Pinyin: Zhème xiǎo de háizi néng huà chū zhème hǎo de huà, tài liǎobuqǐ le.
English: For such a young child to be able to paint such a good picture, that's so incredible.
Analysis: Used to praise a talent or skill that is exceptional for someone's age or situation. The `太…了` (tài…le) structure amplifies the feeling.
Example 3:
我觉得这没什么了不起的，很多人都能做到。
Pinyin: Wǒ juéde zhè méishénme liǎobuqǐ de, hěn duō rén dōu néng zuòdào.
English: I don't think this is anything special; many people can do it.
Analysis: This shows the negative form, `没什么了不起的 (méishénme liǎobuqǐ de)`, which means “nothing remarkable” or “no big deal.”
Example 4:
他觉得自己很了不起，总是看不起别人。
Pinyin: Tā juéde zìjǐ hěn liǎobuqǐ, zǒngshì kànbuqǐ biérén.
English: He thinks he's so great and always looks down on others.
Analysis: Here, 了不起 is used to describe someone's arrogant attitude. It's not a compliment but a critique of their character.
Example 5:
（讽刺的）哟，迟到半小时，你可真了不起啊！
Pinyin: (Fěngcì de) Yō, chídào bàn xiǎoshí, nǐ kě zhēn liǎobuqǐ a!
English: (Sarcastic) Oh, you're half an hour late, you're really something else!
Analysis: A clear example of sarcastic usage. The context (being late) and the tone particle `啊 (a)` signal that this is not praise.
Example 6:
单枪匹马地创业，这种勇气本身就很了不起。
Pinyin: Dānqiāngpǐmǎ de chuàngyè, zhè zhǒng yǒngqì běnshēn jiù hěn liǎobuqǐ.
English: Starting a business all by yourself—that kind of courage in itself is amazing.
Analysis: This praises not just an outcome but an inherent quality: courage. This highlights its use for admirable character traits.
Example 7:
你有什么了不起的？不就是有两个钱吗？
Pinyin: Nǐ yǒu shéme liǎobuqǐ de? Bù jiùshì yǒu liǎng ge qián ma?
English: What's so great about you? Isn't it just that you have a bit of money?
Analysis: This is a rhetorical question used to challenge someone's perceived superiority. It's aggressive and dismissive.
Example 8:
在那种情况下保持冷静，他真的很了不起。
Pinyin: Zài nà zhǒng qíngkuàng xià bǎochí lěngjìng, tā zhēn de hěn liǎobuqǐ.
English: To stay calm in that kind of situation, he is truly remarkable.
Analysis: Praising someone's commendable behavior under pressure. This is a very strong and respectful compliment.
Example 9:
我就是一个普通人，没什么了不起的成就。
Pinyin: Wǒ jiùshì yī ge pǔtōng rén, méishénme liǎobuqǐ de chéngjiù.
English: I'm just an ordinary person, with no extraordinary achievements.
Analysis: A common phrase used for humility or self-deprecation, which is a valued trait in Chinese culture.
Example 10:
像袁隆平这样的科学家是了不起的民族英雄。
Pinyin: Xiàng Yuán Lóngpíng zhèyàng de kēxuéjiā shì liǎobuqǐ de mínzú yīngxióng.
English: Scientists like Yuan Longping are incredible national heroes.
Analysis: Demonstrates the use of 了不起 to describe great, historical, or nationally significant figures. It conveys deep respect and admiration.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
厉害 (lìhai): A very common, slightly more colloquial synonym for “awesome” or “cool,” can also mean “fierce.”
棒 (bàng): An informal slang term meaning “great!” or “super!” Like giving a thumbs-up.
优秀 (yōuxiù): A more formal word for “excellent” or “outstanding.” Often found in report cards, job evaluations, and formal speeches.
伟大 (wěidà): Means “great” in the sense of “mighty” or “historic.” Reserved for truly epic figures, movements, or concepts (e.g., a great leader, a great country, a great invention).
非凡 (fēifán): A formal and literary term for “extraordinary” or “uncommon.”
惊人 (jīngrén): Means “astonishing” or “surprising.” It emphasizes the shock value of an achievement or statistic.
牛 (niú): Modern, very popular slang for “awesome” or “badass.” Extremely informal.
佩服 (pèifú): A verb meaning “to admire.” Often used together with 了不起. (e.g., 我很佩服你，你太了不起了！ - I really admire you, you're so incredible!)