How common it is
了不起 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
Pronunciation focus
Say liǎo bu qǐ slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
了不起表示非常厉害、很棒。
liǎo bù qǐ biǎo shì fēi cháng lì hài 、 hěn bàng。
了不起 means amazing or great.
Context note
了不起常用于称赞、感叹和口语。
liǎo bù qǐ cháng yòng yú chēng zàn 、 gǎn tàn hé kǒu yǔ。
It is often used with praise, exclamation, and spoken language.
5 examples
你真了不起。
nǐ zhēn liǎo bù qǐ。
You are really amazing.
这件事很了不起。
zhè jiàn shì hěn liǎo bù qǐ。
This is a remarkable thing.
他做了不起的事。
tā zuò liǎo bù qǐ de shì。
He did something amazing.
了不起的成绩。
liǎo bù qǐ de chéng jì。
A great achievement.
她很了不起。
tā hěn liǎo bù qǐ。
She is amazing.
5 mini stories
老师说，这个孩子真了不起。
lǎo shī shuō， zhè ge hái zi zhēn liǎo bù qǐ。
The teacher said this child is really amazing.
他连续进步，真了不起。
tā lián xù jìn bù， zhēn liǎo bù qǐ。
He kept improving, which is really great.
了不起的表现让大家鼓掌。
liǎo bù qǐ de biǎo xiàn ràng dà jiā gǔ zhǎng。
The amazing performance made everyone clap.
她觉得妈妈很了不起。
tā jué de mā ma hěn liǎo bù qǐ。
She thinks her mom is amazing.
了不起不一定要很大，也可以是努力。
liǎo bù qǐ bù yí dìng yào hěn dà， yě kě yǐ shì nǔ lì。
Amazing does not have to be huge; it can also be effort.