Definition
不可不 is a fixed three-character expression meaning 'must' or 'have to'. It is formed by doubling the negative — 不 ('not') + 可 ('can be') + 不 ('not') — creating a double negative that results in strong necessity. Use it to emphasize an obligation or necessity in formal or written Chinese. Note that the pinyin of the headword is given as 'bú' but in natural speech the first 不 is pronounced bù and the second 不 before a 4th-tone syllable becomes bú (bù kě bú); the headword pinyin reflects the sandhi of the final syllable.
v.p.
musthave to (emphatic, formal)
Examples
- 不可不。Zhège wèntí bú jiějué.This problem must be resolved.
- 不可不。Nǐ bú xiǎoxīn duìdài.You must handle it carefully.
- 不可不。Zhè jiàn shì bú gàosu dàjiā.We have to tell everyone about this matter.
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