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B1 adjective #5,500 most common 9 min read

不合格

buhege Top 5,500

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 不合格 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 不合格 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you can think of 不合格 (bù hé gé) as a formal way to say 'no good' or 'failed.' Even though it's a B1 word, you might see it on signs or labels. Imagine you are playing a simple game and you don't follow the rules; the result is 不合格. In very simple terms: 合格 means 'Yes/Pass' and 不合格 means 'No/Fail.' You can use it to describe a toy that is broken or a piece of homework that wasn't done correctly. Just remember it's a bit more 'official' than just saying '不好' (not good).

At the A2 level, you should start using 不合格 to describe things that don't meet a basic requirement. For example, if you are applying for a library card and you don't have the right ID, your application might be 不合格. You can also use it for simple quality checks. If you buy a pen and it doesn't write, the quality is 不合格. It's a useful word for basic shopping and service interactions where something isn't right according to the rules. It is often used with the word 产品 (product).

At the B1 level, you need to understand that 不合格 specifically refers to 'failing to meet a standard (标准).' This is the level where you distinguish it from 不及格 (failing a test score). You should be able to use it in workplace contexts, such as describing a task that wasn't completed to the company's standards, or in health contexts, such as a physical exam result. You'll recognize it in news reports about consumer safety and quality control. It's an objective word, not a subjective one.

At the B2 level, you can use 不合格 in more abstract and metaphorical ways. You might discuss what makes an 不合格的公民 (an 'unqualified' or 'substandard' citizen) or an 不合格的父母. You should also be comfortable with related technical terms like 不合格率 (failure rate) and 抽检不合格 (failed random inspection). You understand the legal implications of this word in business contracts and how it differs from 'breach of contract' (违约), though the two are often related.

At the C1 level, 不合格 is part of your professional vocabulary. You use it to discuss systemic failures, regulatory compliance, and quality assurance frameworks. You can analyze why a certain policy resulted in 不合格 outcomes or how to reduce the 不合格率 in a complex manufacturing process. You understand the nuance of using this word in political discourse to criticize the 'qualifications' of an official or the 'standards' of a government project. Your usage is precise and context-aware.

At the C2 level, you possess a near-native grasp of 不合格. You can use it in philosophical debates about the 'standards' of humanity or art. You might use it in high-level legal writing to describe products that fail to meet the 'implied warranty of merchantability' (虽然法律术语更复杂，但核心是不合格). You can play with the word in literature or satire, perhaps describing a 'substandard' soul or an 'unqualified' existence. You understand its historical context in the evolution of Chinese industrial standards (GB standards).

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

不合格 in 30 Seconds

不合格 means failing to meet a formal standard, rule, or quality requirement in industrial, academic, or professional contexts.
It is primarily used as an adjective or predicate to describe products (substandard) or people (unqualified for a role).
Unlike '不及格' (failing a test score), '不合格' refers to a broader failure to comply with objective benchmarks.
Commonly found in news reports about food safety, product recalls, and professional performance reviews.

The Chinese term 不合格 (bù hé gé) is a foundational adjective and predicate in Mandarin that translates directly to 'unqualified,' 'substandard,' or 'failing to meet the standard.' To understand this word, one must first look at its constituent parts: 不 (bù) meaning 'not' and 合格 (hé gé) meaning 'to meet the standard' or 'qualified.' In a society that places a heavy emphasis on standardization, examination, and quality control, this term carries significant weight. It is not merely a subjective opinion like 'bad' (不好); rather, it implies a formal failure to cross a specific, objective threshold. When a product is labeled 不合格, it often means it has failed a legal or safety inspection. When a student's performance is 不合格, it means they have failed to achieve the minimum passing grade. The term is pervasive in administrative, industrial, and educational contexts.

Industrial Context: In manufacturing, this word is the nightmare of any factory manager. It refers to goods that do not meet the quality control (QC) requirements. If a batch of electronics has a high 不合格率 (bù hé gé lǜ) or 'failure rate,' it could lead to massive financial losses and brand damage.
Educational Context: In schools, while 不及格 (bù jí gé) is the more common term for failing a specific test score, 不合格 is used for general requirements, such as failing a physical education test or not meeting the criteria for graduation.
Professional Context: For professionals, being called an 不合格的医生 (an unqualified doctor) is a severe insult to one's competence and ethics, suggesting they lack the necessary skills or licenses to practice.

由于质量问题，这批玩具被判定为不合格产品。(Due to quality issues, this batch of toys was judged as substandard products.)

The nuance of 不合格 lies in its binary nature. Unlike 'average' or 'mediocre,' this word suggests a line has been drawn, and the subject is on the wrong side of it. It is frequently seen on official government websites reporting on food safety or in news segments about building inspections. In interpersonal relationships, it is used metaphorically; a person might jokingly or seriously say, 'You are an 不合格 boyfriend,' implying the partner isn't meeting the 'standard' expectations of the role. However, its primary home remains in the realm of rules, regulations, and formal assessments.

他的体检结果显示视力不合格，不能当飞行员。(His physical exam results showed his vision was not up to standard, so he cannot become a pilot.)

Using 不合格 correctly requires understanding its grammatical flexibility as both a predicate adjective and an attributive adjective. In its simplest form, it follows a subject and the linking verb 是 (shì) or stands alone after a noun phrase to indicate status. For example, 这件衣服不合格 (This piece of clothing is substandard). Note that unlike many adjectives in Chinese, 不合格 is rarely preceded by degree adverbs like 很 (hěn - very) or 非常 (fēicháng - extremely) because it describes a binary state—something is either up to standard or it isn't. You wouldn't typically say something is 'very unqualified' in a formal sense, though people might say it colloquially to emphasize extreme failure.

Structure 1: Subject + (是) + 不合格: Example: 这些零件不合格。 (These parts are substandard.) This is the most direct way to state that something has failed an inspection or standard.
Structure 2: 不合格 + 的 + Noun: Example: 工厂销毁了所有不合格的产品。 (The factory destroyed all substandard products.) Here, it acts as a modifier for the noun.
Structure 3: Verb + 结果 + 为 + 不合格: Example: 检查结果为不合格。 (The inspection result was 'unqualified'.) This is highly formal and common in official reports.

如果你的表现不合格，公司将不会录用你。(If your performance is not up to standard, the company will not hire you.)

When applying this word to people, it often refers to their professional standing or their fulfillment of a specific social role. For instance, 一个不合格的父亲 (an unfit father) suggests the person has failed to meet the societal or moral standards of fatherhood. In a legal sense, 不合格的选民 refers to an ineligible voter. It is important to distinguish 不合格 from 不及格. While both mean 'fail,' 不及格 is almost exclusively used for numerical test scores (e.g., scoring 50/100), whereas 不合格 is used for broader criteria and physical standards.

由于材料不合格，这座建筑被判定为危房。(Because the materials were substandard, this building was judged to be a dangerous structure.)

In daily life in China, you will encounter 不合格 in several key environments. The most common is in the realm of consumer protection. Every year, especially around '3.15' (World Consumer Rights Day), the Chinese media releases lists of 不合格产品 (substandard products) ranging from toxic toys to faulty car parts. If you are shopping on platforms like Taobao or JD.com and look at negative reviews, you might see customers complaining that the product quality is 不合格, meaning it doesn't match the description or basic utility standards.

News & Media: Headlines often read: '某品牌手机抽检不合格' (A certain brand of mobile phone failed random inspection). This is a formal announcement from regulatory bodies like the State Administration for Market Regulation.
Workplace & HR: During annual performance reviews, an employee might receive a rating of 不合格. This is usually the lowest tier and often serves as a formal warning or grounds for termination.
Medical & Health: In health check-ups for jobs (especially civil service), if a candidate's blood pressure or vision is 不合格, they may be disqualified from the recruitment process.

超市里的这批蔬菜农药残留超标，检测结果为不合格。(The pesticide residue in this batch of vegetables in the supermarket exceeded the limit; the test result was substandard.)

You will also hear this word in the context of the 'Social Credit System' or similar institutional evaluations. Organizations that fail to meet environmental standards are labeled as 环保不合格 (environmentally substandard). In the driver's license exam (科目一, 科目二, etc.), if you make a critical error, the examiner or the computerized system will announce that your attempt was 不合格. It is a word of finality and institutional judgement. Even in casual settings, if someone is doing a poor job at a task, a friend might tease them by saying, '你这技术不合格啊!' (Your skills aren't up to par!).

教练说我的倒车入库操作不合格，需要多加练习。(The instructor said my reverse parking maneuver was not up to standard and I need more practice.)

One of the most frequent errors English speakers make is confusing 不合格 with 不及格 (bù jí gé). While both translate to 'fail' or 'unqualified,' they are used in different domains. 不及格 is strictly for failing a test based on a numerical score (usually below 60%). If you say a product is 不及格, it sounds slightly odd to a native speaker because products don't take exams; they meet standards. Conversely, if you say a student is 不合格, it implies a broader failure of their status as a student, not just one test score.

Mistake 1: Confusing with 不合适 (bù hé shì): Example: '这双鞋子不合格。' (This pair of shoes is substandard/faulty) vs '这双鞋子不合适。' (This pair of shoes doesn't fit/is unsuitable). Use 不合适 for personal preference or fitting, and 不合格 for quality failure.
Mistake 2: Overusing '很' (hěn): Since 不合格 is often a technical status, saying '很不合格' is like saying 'very pregnant.' While used for emphasis, it's technically redundant. In formal reports, use '不符合标准' (does not meet standards) or '严重不合格'.
Mistake 3: Misapplying to Personality: You wouldn't call someone an 不合格的人 just because they are mean. That would be 坏人 or 没礼貌的人. You only use 不合格 if they are failing a specific role (e.g., an 不合格的经理).

错误：他的英语考试不合格。 (Incorrect: His English exam is unqualified.)
正确：他的英语考试不及格。 (Correct: He failed his English exam.)

Another nuance is the difference between 不合格 and 不专业 (bù zhuān yè). If a barber gives you a bad haircut, they are 不专业 (unprofessional). If they don't have a license to cut hair, they are 不合格 (unqualified/not certified). Learners often use 不合格 when they simply mean 'not good enough' or 'lousy.' Use 差 (chà) or 不好 (bù hǎo) for general poor quality, and save 不合格 for when a rule or standard has been violated.

注意：不要把“不合格”和“不满意”混淆。不合格是客观的标准，不满意是主观的感觉。(Note: Don't confuse 'substandard' with 'dissatisfied'. The former is objective, the latter is subjective.)

To truly master 不合格, you should be aware of its synonyms and related terms, as each carries a different flavor and is used in specific contexts. While 不合格 is the general term for failing a standard, other words might be more precise depending on whether you're talking about quality, legality, or skill level.

不及格 (bù jí gé): Meaning: To fail an exam. Usage: Almost exclusively academic. '我数学不及格' (I failed math). It focuses on the score rather than the overall qualification.
劣质 (liè zhì): Meaning: Poor quality / low grade. Usage: Used to describe physical goods that are made of cheap materials or poorly constructed. '劣质产品' (shoddy products). Unlike 不合格, it doesn't necessarily imply a failed test, just low quality.
违规 (wéi guī): Meaning: To violate regulations. Usage: Used when an action or process breaks a rule. '违规建筑' (illegal construction). A building might be 不合格 because the cement is weak, but it is 违规 because it was built without a permit.
不称职 (bù chèn zhí): Meaning: Incompetent / not up to the job. Usage: Specifically for people in professional roles. '一个不称职的领导' (an incompetent leader). This is more descriptive of their performance than their legal qualification.

虽然他的技术很先进，但由于手续不全，他的诊所依然是不合格的。(Although his technology is advanced, because the paperwork is incomplete, his clinic is still unqualified.)

When choosing between these words, ask yourself: Is there a formal test or standard? If yes, use 不合格. Is it about a number on a test? Use 不及格. Is it about the intrinsic poor quality of an object? Use 劣质. Is it about breaking a law or rule? Use 违规. Understanding these distinctions will make your Chinese sound much more professional and precise. In formal writing, you might also see 不达标 (bù dá biāo), which literally means 'not reaching the target/standard,' often used in environmental or technical contexts.

这家公司的污水排放不达标，被政府罚款了。(This company's sewage discharge did not meet the standard and was fined by the government.)

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

In ancient China, '格' was used in the phrase '格物致知' (investigating things to gain knowledge). Today, it is mostly associated with physical standards like the size of a box or the quality of a bolt.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /buː hə rɡə/

US /bu hə ɡə/

Stress is evenly distributed in Chinese, but the falling tone on 'Bù' and the rising tone on 'Gé' give it a rhythmic 'down-up-up' feel.

Rhymes With

不可 (bù kě) 特色 (tè sè) 格局 (gé jú) 合作 (hé zuò) 合适 (hé shì) 合格 (hé gé) 及格 (jí gé) 严格 (yán gé)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'hé' as 'he' (English pronoun). It should be a schwa-like sound /ə/.
Misplacing the tone on 'bù'. It should be 4th tone, but remember it changes to 2nd tone if the next word is also 4th tone (not applicable here).
Confusing 'gé' with 'jié'.
Failing to make 'hé' and 'gé' distinct rising tones.
Pronouncing 'bù' too softly; it needs to be sharp.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

The characters are relatively common, but seeing them in technical reports can be challenging.

Writing 4/5

Writing '格' correctly requires attention to the radicals (木 and 各).

Speaking 2/5

The pronunciation is straightforward, but tone sandhi for 'bù' must be watched (though not an issue here).

Listening 3/5

Can be confused with '不及格' in fast speech.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

不合格标准质量

Learn Next

符合通过及格达标劣质

Advanced

质量管理认证抽样调查违章称职

Grammar to Know

The 'Bù' Tone Change

不 (bù) stays 4th tone before 1st, 2nd, and 3rd tones (like hé).

Adjectives as Predicates

Subject + Adjective (e.g., 产品不合格) doesn't always need 'shì'.

The use of 'De'

不合格的产品 (Substandard product) uses 'de' to link adjective and noun.

Resultative Complements

判定为不合格 (Judged to be unqualified) uses 'wéi' as a result.

Concessive Clauses

虽然...但不合格 (Although... but unqualified).

Examples by Level

这个玩具不合格。

This toy is substandard.

Subject + 不合格

他的作业不合格。

His homework is not up to standard.

Simple predicate usage

这杯水不合格。

This water is not qualified (for drinking).

Describing quality

苹果不合格，不要吃。

The apples are substandard, don't eat them.

Warning context

我不合格吗？

Am I unqualified?

Question form

这里不合格。

This place/part is not up to standard.

Locative subject

你的衣服不合格。

Your clothes are not up to standard (e.g., school uniform).

Possessive subject

那是件不合格的产品。

That is a substandard product.

Adjective + Noun

由于视力不合格，他没拿到驾照。

Because his vision was not up to standard, he didn't get his driver's license.

Cause + Effect

这批产品中有五个不合格。

There are five substandard items in this batch.

Quantifying failures

医生说他的身体检查不合格。

The doctor said his physical exam was not up to standard.

Reporting speech

不合格的食品会被销毁。

Substandard food will be destroyed.

Passive context

你的申请材料不合格，请重写。

Your application materials are not up to standard; please rewrite them.

Polite request

这个房间的卫生不合格。

The hygiene of this room is not up to standard.

Specific aspect (hygiene)

这台机器因为不合格被退回了。

This machine was returned because it was substandard.

Result of failure

我们不能卖不合格的东西。

We cannot sell substandard things.

Modal verb + 不合格

该工厂因生产不合格产品被停业整顿。

The factory was ordered to suspend operations for rectification due to producing substandard products.

Formal administrative language

检查员发现这批零件的尺寸不合格。

The inspector found that the dimensions of this batch of parts were not up to standard.

Technical specification

如果考核不合格，你将无法转正。

If the assessment is not up to standard, you will not be able to become a regular employee.

Conditional 'If' clause

食品安全抽检结果显示有三项不合格。

Food safety random inspection results showed three items were substandard.

Official report style

他是一个不合格的经理，从不听取员工意见。

He is an unqualified manager; he never listens to employees' opinions.

Metaphorical/Professional use

这批木材因为受潮而被判定为不合格。

This batch of timber was judged substandard because it got damp.

Passive judgment (判定为)

不合格的建筑材料会导致安全隐患。

Substandard building materials can lead to safety hazards.

General statement/Warning

由于手续不合格，他的签证申请被拒绝了。

Due to unqualified procedures (paperwork), his visa application was rejected.

Abstract standard (procedures)

企业的社会责任感不合格，必然会失去消费者。

If a company's sense of social responsibility is substandard, it will inevitably lose consumers.

Abstract subject (responsibility)

这种不合格的竞争方式破坏了市场秩序。

This unqualified (improper) way of competing has disrupted market order.

Describing methods/behavior

我们要严厉打击生产和销售不合格产品的行为。

We must severely crack down on the production and sale of substandard products.

Legal/Enforcement context

虽然他很有才华，但在品德上却是个不合格的人。

Although he is very talented, he is an 'unqualified' person in terms of moral character.

Moral judgment

该项目的环境评估不合格，必须重新规划。

The environmental assessment of the project was substandard and must be replanned.

Technical/Regulatory assessment

不合格率如果超过1%，整批货物都要退回。

If the failure rate exceeds 1%, the entire batch of goods must be returned.

Using '不合格率' (failure rate)

他因表现不合格而被取消了参赛资格。

He was disqualified from the competition due to substandard performance.

Disqualification context

检测报告指出，该水源的重金属含量不合格。

The test report pointed out that the heavy metal content of the water source was not up to standard.

Scientific/Technical report

这种不合格的制度设计是导致腐败的根源之一。

This substandard institutional design is one of the root causes of corruption.

Systemic/Political analysis

在这一标准下，许多传统工艺都被视为不合格。

Under this standard, many traditional crafts are seen as substandard.

Sociological/Cultural critique

司法不合格是对社会公正最大的威胁。

An unqualified (failing) judiciary is the greatest threat to social justice.

High-level abstract noun usage

如果不合格的干部不被撤换，企业将难以发展。

If unqualified cadres are not replaced, the enterprise will find it difficult to develop.

Corporate/Political management

该研究因实验数据不合格而未被学术期刊录用。

The research was not accepted by the academic journal due to substandard experimental data.

Academic context

我们不能用一种不合格的价值观去衡量另一种文化。

We cannot use a substandard (inadequate) set of values to measure another culture.

Philosophical/Ethical context

不合格的心理素质使他在关键时刻掉链子。

His 'unqualified' (inadequate) psychological quality caused him to fail at the critical moment.

Internal traits

政府对不合格奶粉的查处力度空前加大。

The government has increased its investigation and punishment of substandard milk powder to an unprecedented level.

Public policy context

从某种意义上说，任何追求完美的尝试在现实面前都是不合格的。

In a sense, any attempt to pursue perfection is 'unqualified' (fails) in the face of reality.

Philosophical/Existential use

这种不合格的叙事结构削弱了小说的艺术感染力。

This substandard narrative structure weakened the artistic appeal of the novel.

Literary criticism

在全球化背景下，不合格的法律框架会阻碍资本流动。

In the context of globalization, an inadequate legal framework will hinder capital flow.

Economic/Legal theory

他那不合格的灵魂在物欲横流的社会中迷失了方向。

His 'unqualified' (inadequate/tainted) soul lost its way in a society overflowing with material desires.

Poetic/Metaphorical

对于不合格的历史观，我们应当保持高度的警惕。

We should remain highly vigilant against 'unqualified' (distorted/incorrect) views of history.

Ideological analysis

该项技术若不能解决不合格率的波动问题，将无法投入量产。

If this technology cannot solve the problem of fluctuations in the failure rate, it will not be able to go into mass production.

Advanced industrial logic

不合格的教育体系只会培养出没有创造力的机器。

A substandard education system will only produce machines without creativity.

Systemic critique

他以一种近乎不合格的姿态，完成了对传统的最后一次致敬。

In a gesture that was almost 'unqualified' (unconventional/failing), he completed his final tribute to tradition.

Nuanced literary description

Common Collocations

不合格产品

检测不合格

考核不合格

严重不合格

不合格率

抽检不合格

身体不合格

视力不合格

手续不合格

判定为不合格

Common Phrases

判定不合格

— To judge or determine as substandard. Used in official reports.

该设备被判定不合格。

处理不合格品

— To handle or dispose of substandard items. Common in manufacturing.

仓库里正在处理不合格品。

验收不合格

— To fail the final acceptance inspection. Used in construction/projects.

装修工程验收不合格。

完全不合格

— Completely unqualified or failing in every aspect.

他的表现完全不合格。

初审不合格

— To fail the preliminary review/screening.

他的简历初审不合格。

复检不合格

— To fail the re-inspection or follow-up test.

复检不合格后，工厂被关闭了。

质量不合格

— The quality does not meet the standard.

这批货因为质量不合格被退回。

标准不合格

— Used when the standard itself is flawed, or more commonly, the item fails the standard.

这种标准下的产品是不合格的。

技术不合格

— Skills or technical aspects are not up to par.

由于技术不合格，他被调离了岗位。

环保不合格

— Failing to meet environmental protection standards.

很多小工厂因为环保不合格被关停。

Often Confused With

不合格 vs 不及格

Only for failing test scores (numbers).

不合格 vs 不合适

Only for 'unsuitable' or 'doesn't fit' (subjective/size).

不合格 vs 不专业

For 'unprofessional' behavior or lack of skill.

Idioms & Expressions

"名不副实"

— The reality does not live up to the name; often used when a 'qualified' brand produces 'unqualified' goods.

这家五星级酒店的服务名不副实。

Literary

"滥竽充数"

— To masquerade as a qualified person just to make up the numbers.

他在乐队里只是滥竽充数，技术完全不合格。

Idiomatic

"金玉其外，败絮其中"

— Beautiful on the outside, but rotten on the inside; describing a product that looks good but is substandard.

这件衣服金玉其外，败絮其中，洗一次就烂了。

Literary

"粗制滥造"

— To manufacture in a slipshod or crude manner; the cause of being 不合格.

这些粗制滥造的玩具非常危险。

General

"鱼目混珠"

— To pass off fish eyes as pearls; mixing substandard goods with quality ones.

市场上有很多鱼目混珠的不合格产品。

Idiomatic

"敷衍了事"

— To do something half-heartedly; leading to an unqualified result.

他做事总是敷衍了事，结果当然不合格。

General

"名存实亡"

— Existing in name only; used for a 'qualified' status that no longer holds true.

该厂的质量管理体系早已名存实亡，产品全是不合格的。

Literary

"一败涂地"

— A complete failure; can describe a project that was utterly 不合格.

他的新项目搞得一败涂地，完全不合格。

Idiomatic

"偷工减料"

— To cut corners on materials and labor; the main reason for construction being 不合格.

装修公司偷工减料，导致验收不合格。

General

"挂羊头卖狗肉"

— Hang a sheep's head but sell dog meat; selling substandard goods under a quality label.

这家店挂羊头卖狗肉，卖的都是不合格的假货。

Colloquial

Easily Confused

不合格 vs 不及格

Both mean 'fail'.

不及格 is for exams; 不合格 is for general standards or quality.

他数学不及格，但作为班长他是合格的。

不合格 vs 不合适

Sound similar (hé shì vs hé gé).

不合适 means 'not suitable' (e.g., wrong size); 不合格 means 'substandard' (e.g., broken).

这双鞋大小不合适，而且质量也不合格。

不合格 vs 劣质

Both describe bad products.

劣质 is an adjective for 'shoddy'; 不合格 is a status of failing an inspection.

他卖的是劣质产品，所以检测不合格。

不合格 vs 不称职

Both apply to people failing roles.

不称职 focuses on performance/ability; 不合格 focuses on objective requirements/licenses.

他虽有证书，但表现很不称职。

不合格 vs 违规

Both involve breaking rules.

违规 is about the *action* of breaking a rule; 不合格 is the *status* of not meeting a standard.

由于操作违规，导致产品不合格。

Sentence Patterns

这[Noun]不合格。

这件衣服不合格。

因为[Reason]，所以不合格。

因为视力不好，所以不合格。

被判定为不合格。

这批玩具被判定为不合格。

由于...而不合格。

由于质量问题而不合格。

不合格的[Person/Role]。

他是一个不合格的厨师。

[Aspect]不合格。

卫生条件不合格。

针对不合格的[Noun]进行[Action]。

针对不合格的产品进行销毁。

以不合格的姿态...

他以不合格的姿态完成了任务。

Word Family

Nouns

合格证 (Certificate of conformity)

不合格品 (Substandard goods)

不合格率 (Failure rate/Defect rate)

Verbs

合 (To match/join)

格 (To inspect - archaic, now usually part of compounds)

Adjectives

合格 (Qualified/Standard)

不合格 (Unqualified/Substandard)

标准 (Standard)

检测 (Testing)

质量 (Quality)

不及格 (Fail an exam)

符合 (To comply with)

How to Use It

frequency

Common in news, industry, and formal assessments.

Common Mistakes

我的考试不合格。 → 我的考试不及格。
Use 不及格 for failing scores on tests.
这件衣服很不合格。 → 这件衣服质量不合格。
While '很' is used colloquially, it's better to specify what is substandard.
他是一个不合格的人。 → 他是一个坏人。 / 他在工作中不合格。
Don't use 不合格 for general personality; use it for specific roles.
这双鞋不合格，太小了。 → 这双鞋不合适，太小了。
Size issues are 'unsuitable' (不合适), not 'substandard' (不合格).
产品不合格了。 → 产品不合格。
Adding 'le' implies a change in state, but 'unqualified' is usually an inherent status after a test.

Tips

Context Matters

Always check if you are talking about a test score (不及格) or a quality standard (不合格).

Radical Awareness

The character '格' has a 'wood' radical. Think of measuring a wooden frame to see if it's 'qualified'.

Tone Clarity

Pronounce 'hé' and 'gé' clearly as rising tones to avoid confusion.

Word Pairing

Learn it with '产品' (product) and '标准' (standard) as they are the most common partners.

Officialdom

Recognize that this word often carries the weight of authority or government judgment.

No Degree Needed

Remember that you don't usually need '很' because 'unqualified' is often a yes/no status.

News Keywords

When you hear '质量' (quality), listen for '不合格' immediately after.

The 'Fail' Stamp

Visualize a big red '不合格' stamp on a document.

Workplace Use

Use this word in emails if a delivery from a supplier is faulty.

Vs. 不合适

If a shoe is too small, it's 不合适. If the sole falls off, it's 不合格.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Bucket' (Bù) that 'He' (Hé) tried to 'Get' (Gé). But the bucket had a hole in it, so it was UNQUALIFIED for holding water!

Visual Association

Imagine a red stamp that says 'FAIL' in big letters over a picture of a broken toy. The Chinese characters 不合格 are written next to the stamp.

Word Web

不合格 (Substandard) 质量 (Quality) 产品 (Product) 检测 (Test) 不及格 (Fail exam) 标准 (Standard) 退货 (Return goods) 罚款 (Fine)

Challenge

Try to find three items in your house that might be '不合格' if you were a very strict inspector. Describe why using the word.

Word Origin

The term is a modern compound. '不' (bù) is an ancient negation particle. '合' (hé) originally meant 'to close' or 'to join,' evolving to mean 'to match.' '格' (gé) originally meant 'a branch' or 'a frame,' evolving to mean 'a pattern' or 'standard.' Together, '合格' means 'matching the frame/standard.'

Original meaning: Not matching the established pattern or standard.

Sino-Tibetan (Mandarin Chinese)

Cultural Context

Calling a person '不合格' (e.g., an 'unfit mother') is a very strong moral judgment in Chinese and should be used with caution.

English speakers often use 'unqualified' for people and 'substandard' for things. In Chinese, '不合格' covers both, making it more versatile but requiring context to translate accurately.

The '3.15' Gala on CCTV, which exposes 不合格 products every year. Government 'Blacklists' for companies with 不合格 credit ratings. The classic 'Certificate of Quality' (合格证) found in almost every Chinese-made product box.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Factory/Manufacturing

不合格率
废品
重新加工
质量检测

School/Education

考试不及格
表现不合格
重修
退学

Government/Law

罚款
查封
不合格产品公告
强制销毁

Hospital/Health

体检不合格
指标异常
复查
身体素质

Dating/Social

不合格的伴侣
没达到要求
分手
改进

Conversation Starters

"你买到过不合格的产品吗？是怎么处理的？"

"你觉得什么样的父母才算是不合格的？"

"如果员工的表现不合格，公司应该直接开除他吗？"

"在你的国家，对不合格食品的处罚严厉吗？"

"你有没有过体检不合格的经历？"

Journal Prompts

写一段关于你在商店买到不合格商品并要求退货的经历。

讨论一下：为什么有些工厂明知产品不合格还要继续生产？

描述一次你觉得自己‘不合格’的时刻，以及你后来是如何改进的。

如果你是质量检查员，你会如何处理一批严重不合格的医疗物资？

分析教育系统中‘不及格’与‘不合格’的区别及其对学生的影响。

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, but usually in a professional or social role context, like an 'unqualified teacher' (不合格的老师) or 'unfit parent' (不合格的父母).

The opposite is 合格 (hé gé), which means 'qualified' or 'up to standard'.

In a business or legal context, yes. It implies the object cannot be used or the person cannot perform the task.

Yes, if you feel you are failing in a specific role, like being a friend or a student. It sounds humble or self-critical.

It is 不合格率 (bù hé gé lǜ).

No. Something can be 'bad' (不好) but still 'qualified' (合格) if it meets the minimum legal standards.

Yes, if a player fails a drug test or doesn't meet the weight requirement, they are 不合格.

It is usually removed from shelves, destroyed, or sent back to the factory for '整顿' (rectification).

Yes, if the food fails health inspections, it is 不合格食品.

No, because 'hé' is second tone, 'bù' remains in the fourth tone.