adjective HSK 4
Traditional 不穩
unstable · unsteady · shaky
Meaning
不稳 describes something that lacks stability or steadiness. It can refer to physical instability (like a wobbly table), emotional instability (like an unstable mood), or situational instability (like an uncertain political situation). The word combines 不 (not) with 稳 (stable/steady) to create a straightforward negation.
Usage
Commonly used to describe both concrete physical situations and abstract conditions. Native speakers frequently use it to describe furniture that wobbles, people who are emotionally volatile, economic conditions that are uncertain, or any situation lacking reliability. Often appears in the pattern 很不稳 (very unstable) or 有点不稳 (a bit unsteady).
Examples
- 01这张桌子很不稳，我们需要修一下。, .This table is very unstable; we need to fix it.
- 02他最近情绪不稳，可能是工作压力太大了。, .His emotions have been unstable lately; it's probably because work pressure is too high.
Characters
Common collocations
- 情绪不稳emotionally unstable
- 站不稳unable to stand steadily
- 局势不稳unstable situation