Definition
惹不起 is a potential complement structure formed by the verb 惹 (to provoke/offend) and 不起 (cannot afford to), meaning 'cannot afford to provoke' or 'too tough to handle'. It describes someone or something that is too powerful, dangerous, or influential to be messed with. This pattern (V + 不起) is commonly used for expressing inability to afford something, but here it is used figuratively about social or physical risk.
r.v.
cannot afford to offendtoo tough to handle
Examples
- ，惹不起。Nà ge rén shì hēibāng lǎodà, wǒmen rě bú.That person is a gang leader; we can't afford to offend him.
- 惹不起，。Nà zhī lǎohǔ rě bú, lián lièrén dōu pà tā.That tiger is too tough to handle; even hunters are afraid of it.
- ，惹不起。Tā yǐwéi xīn tóngshì hǎo qīfu, méi xiǎngdào duìfāng rě bú.He thought the new colleague was easy to bully, but didn't expect the other person was too tough to handle.
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