Definition
下不来 is a resultative verb (r.v.) meaning 'cannot come down' — used both literally (a mountain, a high place) and, more commonly, in the fixed expression 面子上∼, meaning 'to be unable to save face; to feel embarrassed'. It can also mean 'cannot be accomplished' or 'won't do' in a colloquial sense, referring to something that fails or is unacceptable.
r.v.
cannot come down (literally)(metaphorical) be embarrassedlose face (esp. with 面子)(colloquial) cannot be accomplishedwon't donot okay
Examples
- ，下不来。Tā pá de tài gāo le, xiànzài xià bú le.He climbed too high and now can't come down.
- ，。Nǐ zhème dāng zhòng pīpíng tā, ràng tā miànzi shang xià bú.Criticizing him publicly like this made him lose face.
- ，下不来。Zhège fāng'àn xíng bu tōng, kǒngpà xià bú.This plan won't work; I'm afraid it's a no-go.
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