不屑(于) (disdain to)
IntroducedRefusal can show an attitude of superiority
- Someone refuses to debate a rumour because they consider it beneath them.
- she / her她disdain to不屑(to)于to argue争论this kind of这种rumor谣言。 — The refusal is framed as disdain, rather than inability.
Locate the pattern in real examples
- disdain to不屑((to)于) (disdain to): he他disdain to不屑(to)于to make做this kind of这种trifle小事。; she / her她to / towards / correct对this kind of这种rumor谣言to disdain as beneath…不屑一顾。
- Read the whole clause before choosing a translation. The examples show the pattern in use; the context below determines what the speaker claims.
Someone refuses to debate a rumour because they consider it beneath them. What does 她不屑于争论这种谣言。 communicate?
The refusal is framed as disdain, rather than inability. 不能争论 means cannot debate; 不愿争论 means unwilling. 不屑于 adds an attitude toward the activity, and does not prove the rumour false.
Follow the speaker
he他disdain to不屑(to)于lie撒谎。
- In the opening situation: she / her她disdain to不屑(to)于to argue争论this kind of这种rumor谣言。
- The refusal is framed as disdain, rather than inability.
Using the pattern named in this lesson: He's above lying: 他 ____ 于撒谎。
不屑(于) + Verb = disdain to: 他不屑于撒谎.
不屑 expresses scorn — too lowly to bother with.
Yes — 不屑于… / 不屑一顾.
Check the limit of the explanation
- cannot不能to argue争论 means cannot debate; unwilling不愿to argue争论 means unwilling.
- disdain to不屑(to)于 adds an attitude toward the activity, and does not prove the rumour false.
不屑于 proves that the speaker is unable to perform the activity.
不能争论 means cannot debate; 不愿争论 means unwilling. 不屑于 adds an attitude toward the activity, and does not prove the rumour false. The refusal is framed as disdain, rather than inability.
Repair the form before interpreting it
- The form she / her她bits屑not不(to)于to argue争论 needs repair here. Write she / her她disdain to不屑(to)于to argue争论 instead; keep the word or frame in its demonstrated order.
- Form and meaning are separate checks. After the repair, explain the sentence in its situation rather than treating a familiar translation as a universal rule.
Rewrite the demonstrated repair exactly: 她屑不于争论
The demonstrated form is 她不屑于争论. The refusal is framed as disdain, rather than inability.
Keep the distinction
- The refusal is framed as disdain, rather than inability. Check the relevant speaker, time or group in the surrounding context.
- cannot不能to argue争论 means cannot debate; unwilling不愿to argue争论 means unwilling. disdain to不屑(to)于 adds an attitude toward the activity, and does not prove the rumour false.
Read the full reference: HSK 6 grammar — Verb phrases.
不屑 marks the action as…
不屑一顾 = not worth even a glance.
Someone refuses to debate a rumour because they consider it beneath them. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.