HSK 5
不敢当
bù gǎn dāng
不敢当 – A Humble Way to Decline a Compliment
Explanation
'不敢当' (bù gǎn dāng) is a polite, humble expression used to respond to praise or formal treatment from others, similar to 'I really can't accept this' in English.
it can be said briefly as '不敢当' (bù gǎn dāng); or matter + 我真是/实在是 + 不敢当 (I really can't accept it).
When someone praises, thanks, or shows you excessive respect, you use this phrase to show humility. It carries a polite tone, usually in formal communication.
Vietnamese learners easily misread it literally character by character (不 bù = not, 敢 gǎn = dare, 当 dāng = take on) and forget that this is a fixed expression conveying humility; it is not used to decline an actual task (declining to do something uses a different way), but only to respond to praise/respect.
Examples
A reward like this — I truly cannot accept it.
I really can't accept it, I only did what I ought to do.
Please don't say that, I really cannot accept it.
Practice
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Learn “不敢当” effectively
The grammar point “不敢当” (不敢当 – A Humble Way to Decline a Compliment) is one of the key structures at HSK 5. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.
Study tip: read the examples aloud many times to build a natural reflex. Then try making your own sentences for your own situations. Use the audio button to hear and practice accurate pronunciation.
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