# Không thể: cannot in Vietnamese (A2)

> Không thể before a verb means "cannot": Chị không thể ở lại lâu. I can't stay long. It's the negative of có thể: drop the có and put không in its place.

Source: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/khong-the-cannot/ · Updated 2026-10-17

**cannot**

Pattern: `[person] + không thể / chưa thể + [verb] (+ được)`

Level: A2 (our estimate) · Register: everyday

Typed without accents: khong the

Situations: [At work](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/?use=work)

*Không thể* before a verb means "cannot": *Chị không thể ở lại lâu.* I can't stay long. It's the negative of *có thể*: drop the *có* and put *không* in its place. *Được* often goes at the end as well, with no change in meaning: *Mai em không thể tới được.* I can't come tomorrow.

*Chưa thể* means "can't yet", for something that may change: *Bây giờ em chưa thể trả lời chị.* I can't give you an answer yet.

*Không thể* sounds careful and definite. It's the usual form in writing and at work, and you'll hear it in some set phrases: *Không thể tin được!* I can't believe it! *Không thể nào!* No way, that's impossible!

In everyday speech, *không* before the verb with *được* after it is more common: *Em không tới được.* It says the same thing more casually, and it's what you'll hear most among friends and at the market.

## A common mistake

✗ Xin lỗi, mai em có thể không tới.

✓ Xin lỗi, mai em không thể tới.

*Có thể không* means "might not": maybe I won't come. For "can't", *không* goes first: *không thể*.

## Examples

- Saigon: Xin lỗi, mai em không thể tới được. | Hà Nội: Xin lỗi, mai em không thể đến được. — Sorry, I can't come tomorrow.
- Không thể tin được! — I can't believe it!
- Bây giờ em chưa thể trả lời chị. — I can't give you an answer yet.
- Chị không thể ở lại lâu. — I can't stay long.

## Words in this pattern

- [không thể](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/khong-the/#s_khong_the): cannot

## Compare

- [Can, may: có thể + verb](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/co-the-can/): can / may
- [Can, manage to: được after the verb](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/duoc-can-after-verb/): be able to
- [Can't not, so must: không thể không](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/khong-the-khong-must/): cannot help but / must

Previous in Can, must, should, want: [Be allowed to, get to: được + verb](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/duoc-before-verb/)
Next in Can, must, should, want: [Do it for me: verb + giùm / hộ](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/giup-ho-favour/)

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