Meaning
不可能 expresses strong negation of possibility or likelihood. It can function as an adjective meaning 'impossible' or as an adverb meaning 'cannot possibly.' The structure combines 不 (not) with 可能 (possible), creating an emphatic statement that something is definitely not possible or will not happen.
Usage
Native speakers use 不可能 when they want to strongly deny a possibility or express complete disbelief. It's more emphatic than simply saying 不能 (cannot). Common in both spoken and written Chinese. Often appears before verbs to indicate impossibility of an action, or stands alone as a response meaning 'impossible!' or 'no way!'
Examples
- 01他不可能明天来，因为他在国外。, .It's impossible for him to come tomorrow because he's abroad.
- 02一个人完成这么多工作是不可能的。.It's impossible for one person to complete this much work.
Characters
Common collocations
- 绝对不可能absolutely impossible
- 不可能的事an impossible thing
- 怎么可能how is it possible
- 不可能做到impossible to achieve
Antonyms
Origin
Formed by negating 可能 (possible) with 不. The word 可能 itself combines 可 (permissible) and 能 (able), so 不可能 literally means 'not permissible-able.'