受不了 / 受得了 (shòubuliǎo / shòudeliǎo) – can't stand / can bear

Pattern

• Subject + (实在 / 真) + 受不了 + (Noun)
• Subject + 受得了 + Noun + 吗？

Usage

• A colloquial pair of potential complements: 受不了 – can't physically or mentally bear something (pain, heat, noise, pressure…); 受得了 – can bear it, mostly used in questions or implied negatives.

Examples

1. 1

   天天对着电脑，眼睛实在受不了。

   Tiāntiān duìzhe diànnǎo, yǎnjing shízài shòubuliǎo.

   Staring at a computer every day – my eyes really can't take it.

2. 2

   这里的夏天又热又潮湿，北方人往往受不了。

   Zhèli de xiàtiān yòu rè yòu cháoshī, běifāngrén wǎngwǎng shòubuliǎo.

   Summers here are hot and humid, which northerners often can't stand.