dàbuliǎo

大不了

Word · Adverb · Adjective

at worst; no big deal

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

2 senses · 6 examples
1.

adverb

at worst; at most; the worst that could happen

informal

Used to downplay a potential negative outcome, often followed by a simple solution or acceptance.

Bié别
dān担
xīn心
qián钱
 ，
dà大
bu不
liǎo了
wǒ我
jiè借
gěi给
nǐ你
 。

Don't worry about the money, at worst I'll lend it to you.

Kǎo考
shì试
shī失
bài败
yě也
méi没
shén什
me么
 ，
dà大
bu不
liǎo了
míng明
nián年
zài再
kǎo考
yī一
cì次
 。

Failing the exam is no big deal, at worst I'll take it again next year.

Show 1 more example
Gǎn赶
bu不
shàng上
chē车
 ，
dà大
bu不
liǎo了
zǒu走
huí回
qù去
jiù就
shì是
le了
 。

If we miss the bus, the worst that could happen is we walk back.

2.

adjective

no big deal; not serious; nothing terrible

informal

Almost always used in negative or rhetorical contexts (e.g., '没有什么大不了'). Expresses that something is not a major issue.

Zhè这
diǎn点
xiǎo小
shāng伤
 ，
méi没
shén什
me么
dà大
bu不
liǎo了
de的
 。

This little injury is no big deal.

Diū丢
le了
yī一
bǎi百
kuài块
qián钱
 ，
yǒu有
shén什
me么
dà大
bu不
liǎo了
de的
 ？

So you lost a hundred yuan, what's the big deal?

Show 1 more example
Zhè这
ge个
bìng病
méi没
yǒu有
shén什
me么
dà大
bu不
liǎo了
 ，
chī吃
diǎn点
yào药
jiù就
huì会
hǎo好
de的
 。

This illness is nothing serious, it'll get better with some medicine.