Lessons 14, 18, 19: Reluctance, unwillingness, helplessness: 勉强, 不忍, 舍不得, 不得不

Explanation

Structure

1. 1
   勉强+V / 勉强+sb.

   A. Lacking the ability but still trying one's best (勉强 + V). B. Doing something grudgingly, barely, making do (unwillingly). C. 勉强 + sb.: forcing others to do what they do not want to do.

   • 我又不好意思放下箱子，只好勉强撑着。

     Wǒ yòu bù hǎoyìsi fàngxià xiāngzi, zhǐhǎo miǎnqiǎng chēngzhe.

     I was reluctant to put my suitcase down, so I had to grit my teeth and bear it.

   • 他这次考试勉强及格。

     Tā zhè cì kǎoshì miǎnqiǎng jígé.

     In this exam he just barely passed.

   • 他不能喝酒，不要勉强他了。

     Tā bù néng hē jiǔ, bú yào miǎnqiǎng tā le.

     He can't drink; stop forcing him.

   • 能做多少就做多少，不要勉强。

     Néng zuò duōshao jiù zuò duōshao, bú yào miǎnqiǎng.

     Do as much as you can; don't push yourself too hard.

   • 我说了半天，他才勉强答应陪我去。

     Wǒ shuōle bàntiān, tā cái miǎnqiǎng dāying péi wǒ qù.

     I kept at it, and only then did he reluctantly agree to go with me.

   • 他不想去就算了，别勉强他了。

     Tā bù xiǎng qù jiù suàn le, bié miǎnqiǎng tā le.

     If he doesn't want to go, then he doesn't; stop forcing him.

2. 2
   不忍+Vverb

   Uneasy at heart, unable to bring oneself (心里忍受不了，不愿意) to do something.

   • 看她睡得正香，我真不忍叫醒她。

     Kàn tā shuì de zhèng xiāng, wǒ zhēn bùrěn jiàoxǐng tā.

     Seeing that she was sound asleep, I really couldn't bear to wake her.

   • 他那么忙，我不忍再麻烦他。

     Tā nàme máng, wǒ bùrěn zài máfan tā.

     He is so busy; I can't bring myself to bother him any further.

   • 我不忍让大家扫兴，更不忍让西西出丑。

     Wǒ bùrěn ràng dàjiā sǎoxìng, gèng bùrěn ràng Xīxī chūchǒu.

     I didn't want to dampen everyone's spirits, much less make Xixi lose face.

   • 这样的镜头太不好了，让人不忍看下去。

     Zhèyàng de jìngtóu tài bù hǎo le, ràng rén bùrěn kàn xiàqu.

     Footage like this is so bad that people can't bear to keep watching.

3. 3
   舍不得+V (khẳng định: 舍得)

   A. Unable to bear to leave or part; the affirmative form is “舍得”, usually used in questions or comparisons. B. Cherishing something so much that one cannot bear to use or throw it away.

   • 我真舍不得离开你们。

     Wǒ zhēn shěbude líkāi nǐmen.

     I really hate to leave you all.

   • 这是朋友送给我的，我一直舍不得用。

     Zhè shì péngyou sòng gěi wǒ de, wǒ yìzhí shěbude yòng.

     This was a gift from a friend; I've never been able to bring myself to use it.

   • 为了准备给儿子上大学的钱，父母舍不得吃，舍不得穿。

     Wèile zhǔnbèi gěi érzi shàng dàxué de qián, fùmǔ shěbude chī, shěbude chuān.

     To save money for their son's university studies, his parents won't let themselves eat well or dress well.

   • 我实在舍不得离开这个我热爱的工作。

     Wǒ shízài shěbude líkāi zhège wǒ rè'ài de gōngzuò.

     I really can't bear to give up this job that I love.

   • 离开家和父母，我心里真有点儿舍不得。

     Líkāi jiā hé fùmǔ, wǒ xīnlǐ zhēn yǒudiǎnr shěbude.

     Leaving home and my parents, I truly feel a bit reluctant.

   • 同学们在一起学习生活了一年，要分别了，都有点儿舍不得。

     Tóngxuémen zài yìqǐ xuéxí shēnghuóle yì nián, yào fēnbié le, dōu yǒudiǎnr shěbude.

     The classmates have lived and studied together for a year, and as they are about to part, everyone feels a bit loath to go.

   • 把这些旧书卖掉，我真有点儿舍不得。

     Bǎ zhèxiē jiù shū màidiào, wǒ zhēn yǒudiǎnr shěbude.

     Selling off these old books, I really feel a bit reluctant.

4. 4
   不得不+V | 只好+V / 只好不+Vverb

   Not out of one's own wish, but because there is no other way; the meaning is like “只好” but the tone is stronger. “不得不” cannot be used in negative sentences, whereas “只好” can.

   • 因为母亲生病住院，我不得不回国。

     Yīnwèi mǔqīn shēngbìng zhùyuàn, wǒ bùdébù huíguó.

     Because my mother was sick and in the hospital, I had no choice but to go back to my country.

   • 因为家里没有钱，所以，他上大学时不得不一边读书，一边打工。

     Yīnwèi jiāli méiyǒu qián, suǒyǐ, tā shàng dàxué shí bùdébù yìbiān dúshū, yìbiān dǎgōng.

     Because his family had no money, he had no choice but to work part-time while studying at university.

   • 原来打算去公园玩，因为下雨只好不去了。

     Yuánlái dǎsuàn qù gōngyuán wán, yīnwèi xiàyǔ zhǐhǎo bú qù le.

     I had originally planned to go to the park, but because it rained, I had to give up the idea.

   • 为了生活，又不得不再三地去求职，一次又一次地接受被拒绝的打击。

     Wèile shēnghuó, yòu bùdébù zàisān de qù qiúzhí, yí cì yòu yí cì de jiēshòu bèi jùjué de dǎjī.

     For the sake of a living, he had no choice but to go looking for work again and again, taking blow after blow of rejection.

   • 我本来不想去，因为女朋友一定要去，我不得不陪她去。

     Wǒ běnlái bù xiǎng qù, yīnwèi nǚpéngyou yídìng yào qù, wǒ bùdébù péi tā qù.

     I originally didn't want to go, but since my girlfriend insisted, I had no choice but to go with her.