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A2 adjective #3,000 most common 9 min read

不耐烦

bù nài fán Top 3,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 不耐烦 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 不耐烦 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you can think of '不耐烦' (bù nài fán) as a way to say someone is 'not happy to wait.' It is a combination of 'not' (不), 'patience' (耐), and 'annoyed' (烦). You can use it in very simple sentences. For example, if you are at a bus stop and the bus does not come for 30 minutes, you might feel '不耐烦.' A1 learners should focus on the basic structure: 'Subject + 很 (hěn) + 不耐烦.' This is a useful word because it helps you express a basic feeling that everyone experiences. Even if you don't know many other words, saying '我不耐烦' tells people exactly how you feel about a delay. It is important to remember that the 'bù' sound changes to the second tone 'bú' because 'nài' is a fourth tone, though in many dictionaries it is listed as 'bù' for simplicity. Just remember: it's about the feeling of wanting something to happen faster because you are tired of waiting.

At the A2 level, you should start using '不耐烦' to describe both yourself and others in everyday situations. You will learn to use it with the particle '地' (de) to describe how someone does an action. For example, '他不耐烦地走了' (He left impatiently). This level also introduces the idea of degree—are you '有点儿' (a bit) or '非常' (extremely) 不耐烦? You should also be able to distinguish '不耐烦' from '着急' (zhāojí). Remember: '着急' is when you are worried about being late, while '不耐烦' is when you are annoyed because something is slow or boring. You might use this word when talking about bad service at a restaurant or a long line at the supermarket. It's a key word for describing moods and reactions in simple stories or daily conversations. You can also use the structure '等得不耐烦' (waiting to the point of being impatient), which is very common in spoken Chinese.

By B1, you should understand the social implications of using '不耐烦.' It’s not just an adjective; it’s a word that can describe a social friction. You can use it to talk about personality traits, although '急躁' (jízào) is often better for that. At this level, you should be comfortable using the structure '对...感到不耐烦' (to feel impatient towards...). For example, '父母对孩子的不听话感到不耐烦' (Parents feel impatient with their children's disobedience). You will also encounter this word in written texts, like news reports about traffic or short stories about workplace stress. You should start to notice the difference between '不耐烦' and '厌烦' (yànfán - to be sick of something). '不耐烦' is usually about time and waiting, whereas '厌烦' is about the nature of the task itself. Your ability to use these nuances will make your Chinese sound more natural and less like a translation from English.

At the B2 level, you can use '不耐烦' to discuss more complex topics, such as the psychological impact of a fast-paced society. You might write an essay about how technology makes people more '不耐烦' because we expect instant results. You should also be able to recognize the word in more formal contexts, such as literature or professional feedback. For instance, a manager might tell an employee, '你的态度不要那么不耐烦' (Don't have such an impatient attitude). You should also be aware of idioms and four-character phrases (chengyu) that express similar feelings, like '心急如焚' (anxious like a fire), and know when '不耐烦' is the more appropriate, grounded choice. At this stage, you should also be able to use the word to describe subtle non-verbal cues in a narrative, such as '他眉头一皱，显然是不耐烦了' (He frowned, clearly becoming impatient).

At the C1 level, your understanding of '不耐烦' should include its use in nuanced social critiques and literary analysis. You can discuss the 'philosophy of patience' and how the lack of it (不耐烦) affects interpersonal relationships and societal harmony. You should be able to identify the word's use in varying registers, from the bluntness of street slang to the refined prose of a modern novel. You might explore how '不耐烦' can be used as a defense mechanism or a sign of burnout in high-pressure professions. Your usage should be flawless, incorporating it into complex sentence structures with ease. You should also understand the historical evolution of the characters—how '耐' (endure) and '烦' (vexation) have been paired throughout the development of the Chinese language to describe this specific human condition. You are expected to use the word in debates about quality of life and the 'slow movement' in urban planning.

At the C2 level, you possess a native-like grasp of '不耐烦,' including its most subtle connotations and its role in the broader tapestry of Chinese emotional expression. You can use the word to perform deep linguistic analysis, perhaps comparing it to similar concepts in other languages (like 'ennui' in French or 'restlessness' in English) and explaining why '不耐烦' captures a unique blend of time-sensitivity and irritation. You can use it in creative writing to evoke a specific atmosphere or to highlight a character's internal conflict. You understand how the word is used in classical-style modern Chinese and can interpret its meaning in complex legal or psychological documents. At this level, '不耐烦' is no longer just a vocabulary word; it is a tool for precise emotional mapping, allowing you to describe the finest gradients of human frustration with absolute accuracy and cultural sensitivity.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

不耐烦 in 30 Seconds

不耐烦 (bù nài fán) means impatient or annoyed due to waiting or boredom.
It is commonly used as an adjective (很不耐烦) or an adverb (不耐烦地).
It differs from 'anxious' (着急) because it focuses on irritation, not just speed.
Showing 不耐烦 in formal Chinese culture can sometimes be seen as a lack of manners.

The Chinese term 不耐烦 (bù nài fán) is a highly expressive adjective and noun that encapsulates the feeling of losing one's patience or becoming increasingly irritated by a situation, person, or delay. In its most literal sense, the character 不 (bù) means 'not,' 耐 (nài) means 'to endure' or 'patience,' and 烦 (fán) means 'annoyed' or 'vexed.' When combined, they describe a psychological state where an individual's capacity to handle a repetitive, slow, or bothersome stimulus has been exhausted. You will encounter this word frequently in daily life, from a customer waiting in a long queue at a bank in Beijing to a teacher dealing with a student who keeps asking the same question. It is more than just being 'in a hurry'; it carries a distinct emotional weight of irritation and slight anger.

Emotional Nuance: Unlike the English word 'hurry,' which focuses on speed, 不耐烦 focuses on the frustration associated with waiting or redundancy. It is often used to describe a visible reaction, such as a sigh, a frown, or a sharp tone of voice. When someone is 不耐烦, they are essentially saying, 'I have had enough of this.'
Social Contexts: In Chinese social dynamics, showing 不耐烦 can be seen as a lack of 'xiuyang' (cultivation or manners), especially toward elders or superiors. However, in informal settings among friends or in high-pressure environments like tech startups in Shenzhen, it is a very common expression of genuine human emotion.
Physical Expressions: The word is frequently paired with verbs of action. For example, 'shaking one's foot' or 'constantly checking one's watch' are classic physical manifestations of being 不耐烦. It is the internal heat of annoyance rising to the surface.

面对他无休止的抱怨，我终于感到有些不耐烦了。
(Faced with his endless complaining, I finally felt a bit impatient/annoyed.)

Furthermore, 不耐烦 can be used to describe a personality trait. A person who is 'ji-zao' (impetuous) is often described as someone who easily becomes 不耐烦. In literature and film, this word is a tool for character development, signaling a character's lack of discipline or their high-stress environment. It's a versatile word that bridges the gap between a fleeting feeling and a deep-seated frustration. Understanding this word helps you navigate the emotional landscape of Mandarin speakers, allowing you to recognize when a conversation might need to be wrapped up or when a situation is becoming tense.

Using 不耐烦 correctly requires understanding its grammatical flexibility as an adjective, a noun, and an adverb. Most commonly, it functions as a predicative adjective, describing the state of the subject. For instance, '他很不耐烦' (He is very impatient). However, to truly sound like a native speaker, you must master the adverbial form using the particle 地 (de).

服务员不耐烦地把菜单扔在了桌子上。
(The waiter impatiently threw the menu onto the table.)

Structure 1: Subject + (Degree Adverb) + 不耐烦: This is the simplest form. Common degree adverbs include 很 (hěn - very), 非常 (fēicháng - extremely), and 有点儿 (yǒudiǎnr - a bit). Example: '老板现在有点儿不耐烦' (The boss is a bit impatient right now).
Structure 2: 不耐烦地 + Verb: This describes the manner in which an action is performed. It is essential for storytelling. Example: '她不耐烦地看了看手表' (She impatiently looked at her watch).
Structure 3: 对 (Person/Thing) 感到不耐烦: This specifies the target of the impatience. Example: '我对这种琐事感到很不耐烦' (I feel very impatient with these kinds of trivial matters).

Another advanced usage involves the construction '等得不耐烦' (waiting to the point of impatience). Here, '得' acts as a complement of degree, showing the result of the action 'waiting.' This is a very common way to express that a delay has crossed a threshold into annoyance. You might hear someone on the phone saying, '我都等得不耐烦了，你到底在哪儿？' (I've waited until I'm fed up, where on earth are you?). This structure is powerful because it links the cause (waiting) directly to the emotional effect (impatience), creating a vivid picture of the speaker's state of mind.

In the bustling streets of Chinese metropolises like Shanghai or Guangzhou, the concept of 不耐烦 is a palpable part of the atmosphere. You will hear it in various social strata and scenarios. In a crowded subway during rush hour, if someone is blocking the door, you might hear a commuter mutter about how 不耐烦 they are with the lack of efficiency. It is a word that captures the friction of modern urban life.

电影还没开始，观众们已经等得有些不耐烦了，现场开始嘈杂起来。
(The movie hadn't started yet, and the audience was already getting a bit impatient; the venue began to get noisy.)

Customer Service: In reviews on apps like Meituan or Dianping, users often complain that '服务员态度很不耐烦' (the waiter's attitude was very impatient). This is a common critique of service quality where the staff seems rushed or annoyed by requests.
Parenting and Family: Parents often use this word when their children are being restless. A mother might say, '别这么不耐烦，再等五分钟' (Don't be so impatient, wait another five minutes). It serves as a gentle or firm correction of behavior.
Workplace Dynamics: During long, unproductive meetings, you might see colleagues showing signs of being 不耐烦—tapping pens, sighing, or checking phones. It’s a signal that the meeting has lost its value.

Interestingly, the word is also appearing more in digital discourse. On social media platforms like Weibo, users might post '对生活感到不耐烦' (feeling fed up with life) to express general burnout. It has become a shorthand for the collective fatigue felt in a fast-paced society. Whether it is the sound of a horn honking in a traffic jam or the sharp 'tsk' of a person behind you in line, the essence of 不耐烦 is an auditory and visual cue that time is being wasted and temper is being tested. Learning to recognize the tone associated with this word is just as important as knowing its definition.

For English speakers, the most common mistake when using 不耐烦 is confusing it with other words that mean 'hurry' or 'worry.' While these emotions are related, they are not interchangeable in Chinese. Understanding the boundaries of 不耐烦 will prevent you from sounding awkward or miscommunicating your feelings.

Mistake 1: Confusing it with '着急' (zhāojí): 着急 means 'anxious' or 'in a hurry' due to a deadline or worry. 不耐烦 is specifically about irritation. If you are late for a flight, you are 着急. If the person in front of you is taking too long to check their bags, you are 不耐烦.
Mistake 2: Confusing it with '烦恼' (fánnǎo): 烦恼 refers to 'worries' or 'troubles' (like financial problems). 不耐烦 is a temporary state of impatience. You wouldn't say you are '不耐烦' about your mortgage; you would say you have '烦恼' about it.
Mistake 3: Incorrect Adverbial Usage: Students often forget the '地' (de) when using it before a verb. Saying '他不耐烦说' is grammatically incomplete; it should be '他不耐烦地说' (He said impatiently).

Incorrect: 我很着急因为排队太长了。(I am anxious because the line is long.)
Correct: 我很不耐烦因为排队太长了。(I am impatient because the line is long.)

Another subtle mistake is the intensity. In English, 'I'm a bit impatient' can be a mild statement. In Chinese, saying '我不耐烦了' can sound quite confrontational. If you want to be more polite, you might use '我等得有点久' (I've waited a bit long) instead of directly attacking the situation with '不耐烦.' Context is king: use it to describe others freely, but be cautious when using it to describe yourself in formal or polite situations to avoid appearing rude or ill-tempered.

While 不耐烦 is a staple of the Chinese language, there are several synonyms and related terms that offer different shades of meaning. Choosing the right one can make your Chinese sound more precise and sophisticated. Below is a comparison of these terms and how they differ from the core concept of impatience.

急躁 (jízào) vs. 不耐烦: 急躁 usually describes a person's character—someone who is naturally impetuous and lacks calm. 不耐烦 is more situational. You can be a calm person but still feel 不耐烦 in a three-hour traffic jam.
心急 (xīnjí) vs. 不耐烦: 心急 literally means 'heart is in a hurry.' It implies eagerness or anxiety to achieve a goal. It lacks the 'annoyance' factor of 不耐烦. For instance, a child '心急' to open birthday presents is excited, not necessarily annoyed.
厌烦 (yànfán) vs. 不耐烦: 厌烦 means 'to be sick of' or 'to be disgusted with' something. It is stronger than 不耐烦 and usually implies a long-term dislike rather than a momentary loss of patience.

他性格比较急躁，所以很容易对琐事感到不耐烦。
(He has a rather impetuous personality, so he easily feels impatient with trifles.)

In summary, while 不耐烦 is your go-to word for 'impatient,' remember to use '着急' for anxiety, '心急' for eagerness, and '急躁' for a short-tempered personality. By diversifying your vocabulary, you can more accurately describe the complex human emotions involved in waiting and irritation. For example, in a medical setting, a patient might be '心急' to know their results (anxious/eager) but '不耐烦' with the long wait in the hallway (annoyed). Distinguishing these allows for much clearer communication.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The character '烦' literally shows 'fire' next to a 'head.' It’s a perfect visual representation of how your head feels when you are annoyed!

Pronunciation Guide

UK /buː naɪ fæn/

US /bu naɪ fæn/

The primary stress in spoken Mandarin usually falls on the last syllable 'fan' to emphasize the annoyance.

Rhymes With

蓝 (lán) 山 (shān) 看 (kàn - though different tone) 难 (nán) 慢 (màn - though different tone) 船 (chuán) 办 (bàn - though different tone) 谈 (tán)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'bu' as a flat first tone.
Forgetting the tone sandhi (changing 'bu' to second tone).
Pronouncing 'nai' like 'nei'.
Making 'fan' a fourth tone instead of a second tone.
Mumbling the 'i' sound in 'nai'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

The characters are common, and the structure is straightforward for early learners.

Writing 3/5

The character '烦' has many strokes and requires practice to write neatly.

Speaking 2/5

Easy to pronounce, but remember the tone sandhi for 'bu'.

Listening 2/5

Very common in daily life; easy to recognize once the 'fan' sound is mastered.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

不很等烦地

Learn Next

着急急躁厌烦耐心脾气

Advanced

心急如焚按捺不住躁动不安浮躁

Grammar to Know

Tone Sandhi for '不' (bù)

不 (bù) becomes (bú) when followed by a 4th tone like 耐 (nài).

Adverbial '地' (de)

Use '地' to turn '不耐烦' into 'impatiently' (不耐烦地说).

Complement of Degree '得' (de)

Structure: Verb + 得 + 不耐烦 (等得不耐烦).

Preposition '对' (duì)

Use '对' to indicate the target of impatience (对他不耐烦).

Degree Adverbs

Using '很', '非常', '极其' to modify the intensity of 不耐烦.

Examples by Level

我等了很久，很不耐烦。

I waited for a long time, very impatient.

Subject + 很 + 不耐烦.

他不耐烦了。

He became impatient.

The 'le' at the end indicates a change of state.

妈妈很不耐烦。

Mom is very impatient.

Simple adjective usage.

我不喜欢不耐烦的人。

I don't like impatient people.

Using '不耐烦' as an attributive adjective with '的'.

请不要不耐烦。

Please don't be impatient.

Negative imperative.

他有一点儿不耐烦。

He is a little bit impatient.

Using '有点儿' to soften the degree.

你为什么不耐烦？

Why are you impatient?

Question word '为什么'.

老师很不耐烦。

The teacher is very impatient.

Subject + degree adverb + adjective.

他不耐烦地关上了门。

He closed the door impatiently.

Adverbial usage: Adjective + 地 + Verb.

我等得不耐烦了。

I've waited until I'm impatient.

Verb + 得 + Adjective (complement of degree).

她不耐烦地看了看表。

She impatiently looked at her watch.

Common collocation: 不耐烦地 + 看表.

服务员态度很不耐烦。

The waiter's attitude was very impatient.

Subject (noun phrase) + 很 + 不耐烦.

别对我这么不耐烦。

Don't be so impatient with me.

对 (someone) + 不耐烦.

他说话的声音很不耐烦。

His voice sounded very impatient.

Describing the quality of a voice.

听这种音乐让我感到不耐烦。

Listening to this music makes me feel impatient.

让 (someone) 感到 (feeling).

他排队排得不耐烦了。

He became impatient from standing in line.

Verb + Object + Verb + 得 + 不耐烦.

他对这种琐事感到非常不耐烦。

He feels very impatient with these kinds of trifles.

Using '琐事' (trifles) as the object of impatience.

老板不耐烦地打断了我的话。

The boss impatiently interrupted me.

Adverbial phrase modifying the verb '打断' (interrupt).

他的语气中透着一丝不耐烦。

There was a hint of impatience in his tone.

Using '一丝' (a hint/a trace) to describe the amount.

如果你总是这么不耐烦，很难交到朋友。

If you are always so impatient, it will be hard to make friends.

Conditional sentence using '如果'.

他不耐烦地挥了挥手，示意我离开。

He waved his hand impatiently, signaling me to leave.

Serial verb construction with '示意'.

长期枯燥的工作让他变得很不耐烦。

Long-term boring work has made him very impatient.

Resultative construction: 让 + object + 变得 + adjective.

面对记者的提问，他显得有些不耐烦。

Facing the reporters' questions, he appeared somewhat impatient.

Using '显得' (to appear/seem).

我不耐烦再听他的那些借口了。

I'm fed up with listening to his excuses.

Using '不耐烦' followed by a verbal phrase.

这种漫长的等待足以让最冷静的人也感到不耐烦。

This long wait is enough to make even the calmest person feel impatient.

Using '足以' (enough to) for emphasis.

他那副不耐烦的样子，让大家都觉得很不舒服。

His impatient look made everyone feel very uncomfortable.

Using '样子' (appearance/manner) as a noun phrase.

他虽然没说出来，但脸上写满了不耐烦。

Although he didn't say it, impatience was written all over his face.

Metaphorical use: '脸上写满了' (written all over the face).

不要因为一时的不耐烦而毁掉长期的努力。

Don't ruin long-term efforts because of a moment's impatience.

Using '因为...而...' (because... thus...).

他试图掩饰自己的不耐烦，但失败了。

He tried to hide his impatience, but failed.

Using '掩饰' (to mask/hide).

现代人的不耐烦很大程度上源于社交媒体的影响。

Modern people's impatience stems largely from the influence of social media.

Abstract usage in a sociological context.

他说话总是带着一种不耐烦的腔调。

He always speaks with an impatient tone.

Using '腔调' (accent/tone).

由于缺乏沟通，双方都开始感到不耐烦了。

Due to a lack of communication, both sides began to feel impatient.

Using '由于' (due to) to explain the cause.

那种不耐烦的情绪在空气中弥漫开来。

That feeling of impatience spread through the air.

Literary usage: '情绪...弥漫' (emotion... pervades).

他在处理复杂问题时，往往会表现出极度的不耐烦。

When dealing with complex issues, he often shows extreme impatience.

Using '往往' (often) to describe a recurring tendency.

这种不耐烦并非偶然，而是长期压力的结果。

This impatience is not accidental, but the result of long-term pressure.

Using '并非...而是...' (not... but rather...).

他那不耐烦的眼神中，隐藏着一丝不易察觉的忧虑。

In his impatient gaze, a trace of hard-to-detect worry was hidden.

Complex noun phrase with multiple modifiers.

面对繁琐的法律程序，他渐渐失去了耐心，变得愈发不耐烦。

Faced with tedious legal procedures, he gradually lost patience and became increasingly impatient.

Using '愈发' (increasingly) for formal emphasis.

他的不耐烦实际上是对现状的一种无声抗议。

His impatience is actually a silent protest against the status quo.

Philosophical interpretation of an emotion.

哪怕是一丁点儿的延误，都会引发他的不耐烦。

Even a tiny delay would trigger his impatience.

Using '哪怕...都...' (even if... still...).

在快节奏的都市生活中，不耐烦似乎成了一种普遍的心理疾病。

In fast-paced urban life, impatience seems to have become a common psychological ailment.

Using '似乎' (seems) to state a hypothesis.

这种不耐烦折射出当代社会对于效率的盲目崇拜。

This impatience reflects contemporary society's blind worship of efficiency.

Using '折射' (reflect/refract) in a metaphorical sense.

他在作品中细致地刻画了那种游走在愤怒边缘的不耐烦。

In his work, he meticulously portrayed that impatience hovering on the edge of anger.

Describing artistic portrayal with '刻画'.

这种不耐烦的情态，恰恰揭示了其内心世界的浮躁与不安。

This state of impatience precisely reveals the impetuousness and unease of his inner world.

Using '情态' (manner/state) and '恰恰' (precisely).

他以一种近乎挑衅的不耐烦，回应了所有的质疑。

With a near-provocative impatience, he responded to all doubts.

Using '近乎' (close to/bordering on).

这种不耐烦不仅是个人的情绪，更是时代精神的一种病态表征。

This impatience is not only a personal emotion but a pathological manifestation of the zeitgeist.

Using '不仅...更是...' and high-level vocabulary like '表征'.

他试图在不耐烦的喧嚣中，寻找片刻的宁静。

He tried to find a moment of peace amidst the clamor of impatience.

Contrastive imagery in high-level prose.

由于这种根深蒂固的不耐烦，他始终无法领略慢生活的真谛。

Due to this deep-rooted impatience, he could never appreciate the true essence of slow living.

Using '根深蒂固' (deep-rooted) and '领略' (appreciate).

他的文字里跳动着一种不安分的、甚至是有些不耐烦的生命力。

In his writing, there beats an unsettled, even somewhat impatient vitality.

Advanced metaphorical description of writing style.

Common Collocations

感到不耐烦

有点儿不耐烦

不耐烦地挥手

等得不耐烦

语气不耐烦

表情不耐烦

表现出不耐烦

显出不耐烦

非常不耐烦

不耐烦的听众

Common Phrases

这就等得不耐烦了？

— Are you already getting impatient? (Often used sarcastically).

才等了五分钟，你就等得不耐烦了？

别不耐烦嘛

— Don't be so impatient (softening tone).

慢慢来，别不耐烦嘛。

满脸不耐烦

— Face full of impatience.

他满脸不耐烦地瞪着我。

极其不耐烦

— Extremely impatient.

他对这种迟到行为感到极其不耐烦。

有些不耐烦

— Somewhat impatient.

他说话的语气听起来有些不耐烦。

按捺不住不耐烦

— Unable to suppress one's impatience.

他按捺不住内心的不耐烦，站了起来。

表现得不耐烦

— To act impatiently.

在会议上，他表现得很不耐烦。

那种不耐烦

— That kind of impatience.

我受够了他那种不耐烦的态度。

由于不耐烦

— Because of impatience.

由于不耐烦，他没听完就走了。

显露出不耐烦

— To reveal impatience.

他的小动作显露出了他的不耐烦。

Often Confused With

不耐烦 vs 着急

着急 is about being in a rush or anxious; 不耐烦 is about being annoyed by waiting.

不耐烦 vs 烦恼

烦恼 refers to general worries or life problems, not situational impatience.

不耐烦 vs 生气

生气 means angry. 不耐烦 is a milder form of annoyance that can lead to anger.

Idioms & Expressions

"百耐不烦"

— Actually a rare play on words meaning never getting tired of something, but usually people say '百看不厌'.

我对这本小说百看不厌，百读不烦。

Literary

"心急如焚"

— Anxious like a burning fire; much stronger than 不耐烦.

孩子还没回来，妈妈心急如焚。

Formal

"迫不及待"

— Can't wait; very eager.

他迫不及待地打开了礼物。

Neutral

"急不可待"

— Too impatient to wait.

他急不可待地想要知道结果。

Formal

"躁动不安"

— Restless and uneasy.

考场外的家长们感到躁动不安。

Neutral

"按捺不住"

— Unable to restrain (emotions).

他按捺不住心中的喜悦。

Neutral

"火烧眉毛"

— Extremely urgent (fire burning eyebrows).

事情都火烧眉毛了，你还不着急？

Informal

"坐立不安"

— Restless (can't sit or stand still).

等成绩的时候，他真是坐立不安。

Neutral

"急于求成"

— Anxious for quick success.

学习不能急于求成，要打好基础。

Formal

"心猿意马"

— Restless and whimsical (mind like a monkey).

他上课总是心猿意马，很不专心。

Literary

Easily Confused

不耐烦 vs 急躁

Both involve a lack of patience.

急躁 is a personality trait; 不耐烦 is usually a temporary reaction to a situation.

他性格急躁，所以现在很不耐烦。

不耐烦 vs 心急

Both relate to wanting things to go faster.

心急 is internal eagerness or anxiety to succeed; 不耐烦 is external irritation at a delay.

由于心急，他等得有点不耐烦。

不耐烦 vs 厌烦

Both involve being 'fed up'.

厌烦 is being bored or sick of a repetitive task; 不耐烦 is being annoyed by the time something takes.

我对这个游戏感到厌烦了，不想再等它加载，真不耐烦。

不耐烦 vs 焦急

Both involve waiting.

焦急 is waiting with worry (like for a surgery result); 不耐烦 is waiting with annoyance.

他在手术室外焦急地等待，而不是不耐烦。

不耐烦 vs 烦躁

Both describe an annoyed state.

烦躁 is a more general feeling of agitation (often from heat or noise); 不耐烦 is specifically about patience.

吵闹的环境让他感到烦躁，对孩子也变得不耐烦了。

Sentence Patterns

我 + 很 + 不耐烦。

我很不耐烦。

他 + 不耐烦地 + Verb。

他不耐烦地走了。

等得 + 不耐烦 + 了。

我等得不耐烦了。

对 + [Something/Someone] + 感到不耐烦。

我对排队感到不耐烦。

语气 + 很 + 不耐烦。

他的语气很不耐烦。

显露出 + [Degree] + 的不耐烦。

他显露出极大的不耐烦。

哪怕...也...不耐烦。

哪怕是小事，他也感到不耐烦。

这种不耐烦 + 揭示了 + [Abstract Concept]。

这种不耐烦揭示了内心的浮躁。

Word Family

Nouns

耐心 (patience)

耐性 (endurance/patience)

烦恼 (worry/trouble)

烦躁 (agitation)

Verbs

耐 (to endure)

烦 (to bother/be annoyed)

忍耐 (to restrain oneself/endure)

Adjectives

耐用 (durable)

耐看 (good-looking even after long viewing)

烦人 (annoying)

急躁

心急

厌烦

焦急

忍受

How to Use It

frequency

Common in both spoken and written Chinese.

Common Mistakes

Using '不耐烦' to mean 'anxious'. → 着急 (zhāojí)
If you are worried about a test, you are '着急,' not '不耐烦.' Use '不耐烦' only when there is a sense of being fed up or annoyed.
Saying '他不耐烦说' instead of '他不耐烦地说'. → 他不耐烦地说
In Mandarin, when an adjective describes a verb, you usually need the particle '地' (de).
Confusing '不耐烦' with '烦恼'. → 烦恼 (fánnǎo)
'烦恼' refers to life's worries (like money or health), while '不耐烦' is situational impatience.
Using '耐心' when you mean 'impatient'. → 不耐烦 (bù nài fán)
Remember that '耐心' is the positive trait (patience), while '不耐烦' is the negative state (impatience).
Incorrect tone on 'bu'. → bú nài fán
The 'bu' must change to second tone because 'nai' is fourth tone. Saying 'bù nài fán' sounds unnatural.

Tips

Using '地' correctly

Always remember to add '地' (de) when using '不耐烦' before a verb. It functions like the '-ly' in English. '他不耐烦地回答' means 'He answered impatiently.'

Minding your manners

In Chinese culture, showing impatience to an elder is a significant sign of disrespect. Even if you feel it, try to hide it to maintain 'mianzi' (face).

Don't confuse with '着急'

If you are worried about being late for a meeting, you are '着急' (anxious). If the meeting is going too long and you want to leave, you are '不耐烦' (impatient).

Master the Tone Sandhi

Practice the 'bú' (second tone) sound. Many students make the mistake of keeping it as 'bù' (fourth tone), which sounds slightly robotic to native speakers.

The '得' Structure

Use '等得不耐烦' to emphasize that the waiting itself is what caused the irritation. It's a very vivid and common way to express this feeling.

Character vs. State

Use '急躁' to describe someone who is generally an impatient person. Use '不耐烦' to describe how someone feels right now.

Listen for the 'Fan'

The 'fan' sound is very distinctive. It sounds like the English word 'fun' but with a rising tone. When you hear it, look for signs of annoyance in the speaker.

Stroke Order for '烦'

Be careful with '烦'. The right side '页' (head) starts with a horizontal line, not a dot. Practice writing it 10 times to get the balance right.

Softening the Blow

If you need to tell someone you are impatient without being too rude, add '有点儿' (a bit) before '不耐烦'. It sounds much less aggressive.

Urban Life

In big cities, everything moves fast. You will hear '不耐烦' most often in contexts related to transportation, technology, and fast-food service.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Bu' (No) + 'Nai' (Nice/Endure) + 'Fan' (Fan). If it's not nice and you need a fan because your head is on fire, you are 'Bùnàifán' (impatient/annoyed).

Visual Association

Imagine a person standing in a long line under a hot sun, tapping their foot and looking at a broken watch. Their head has a little steam cloud coming out of it.

Word Web

耐心烦人等待着急脾气时间情绪反应

Challenge

Try to use '不耐烦' in three different ways today: once to describe a waiter, once to describe a character in a movie, and once to describe how you feel when your computer is slow.

Word Origin

The word is composed of three distinct characters. '不' (bù) is an ancient negation marker. '耐' (nài) originally referred to a punishment in ancient China involving shaving the whiskers, which required the prisoner to endure shame. '烦' (fán) depicts a head (页) and fire (火), suggesting a 'feverish head' or mental heat.

Original meaning: To be unable to endure the heat/vexation of a situation.

Sino-Tibetan

Cultural Context

Be careful using this to describe your boss or your in-laws; it implies they are being annoying or slow, which can cause 'loss of face' (丢脸).

English speakers often say 'I'm losing my patience,' which is almost a direct translation of '我不耐烦了.' However, English speakers might use 'annoyed' more broadly, whereas '不耐烦' is specifically tied to the passage of time or repetitive actions.

Modern Chinese literature often uses '不耐烦' to describe the 'Petty Bourgeoisie' (小资产阶级) who are easily dissatisfied. The phrase '等得不耐烦' appears in many popular Mandopop songs about waiting for love. In the movie 'In the Mood for Love,' subtle impatience is shown through gestures rather than words.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Waiting in Line

排队等得不耐烦
别不耐烦
前面的人很不耐烦
等得我都不耐烦了

Customer Service

服务态度不耐烦
不耐烦地回答
语气极其不耐烦
他显得很不耐烦

Workplace/Meetings

老板不耐烦了
不耐烦地打断
会议让人感到不耐烦
表现出不耐烦的样子

Parenting

对孩子不耐烦
小孩子很容易不耐烦
不要对父母不耐烦
别这么不耐烦

Traffic

堵车让人不耐烦
不耐烦地按喇叭
司机很不耐烦
感到极其不耐烦

Conversation Starters

"你最近有没有遇到让你感到不耐烦的事情？"

"你觉得你是那种容易不耐烦的人吗？"

"如果服务员对你不耐烦，你会怎么做？"

"在什么样的情况下，你最容易等得不耐烦？"

"你认为现代科技是让我们变得更有耐心还是更不耐烦了？"

Journal Prompts

描写一次你等得非常不耐烦的经历。当时你在哪里？发生了什么？

讨论一下“耐心”和“不耐烦”在你的文化中是如何被看待的。

写一段对话，其中一个人很不耐烦，而另一个人试图安慰他。

你认为我们可以通过什么方法来减少生活中的不耐烦感？

描述一个你认识的性格急躁、容易不耐烦的人。

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

It depends on how it is used. Describing your own feeling of '不耐烦' is generally okay, but telling someone else '你很不耐烦' or acting '不耐烦' toward a superior can be seen as very rude. It implies that you find them or the situation they are in control of to be bothersome.

They are very similar. '没耐心' (méi nàixīn) literally means 'to have no patience' and is often used as a general description of someone's character. '不耐烦' is more of an active, emotional state of being annoyed in the moment.

Yes, you can be '不耐烦' with a person who is talking too much, a task that is too complicated, or a situation that is repetitive. Anything that tests your patience can trigger this feeling.

You use the adverbial marker '地' (de). For example: '他不耐烦地看了看手表' (He checked his watch impatiently). This is the most common way to describe an impatient action.

Yes! Because 'nài' is a fourth tone, 'bù' changes to a second tone 'bú'. This is a standard rule in Mandarin called tone sandhi. It sounds more natural to say 'bú nài fán'.

Yes, it typically appears in the HSK 3 or 4 vocabulary lists (depending on the version of the test), which corresponds roughly to the A2/B1 level of the CEFR.

It is primarily an adjective, but in phrases like '他的不耐烦' (his impatience), it functions as a noun. However, '耐心' is much more commonly used as a noun than its negative counterpart.

The best antonym is '耐心' (nàixīn), which means 'patient' or 'patience.' Another good one for a calm state of mind is '冷静' (lěngjìng).

You can say '我开始有点不耐烦了' or, more strongly, '我等得不耐烦了.' The 'le' at the end is crucial as it shows you are entering that state of mind.

Indirectly, yes. You can say '不耐烦的语气' (an impatient tone) or '不耐烦的喇叭声' (the sound of an impatient horn). It describes the emotion behind the sound.