HSK 7-9
犯不着
fàn bù zháo
Not worth it; no need to
Structure
Subject + 犯不着 + (为/跟/对) + Object + Verb Phrase
How it works
The term '犯不着' is used to indicate that an action is unnecessary, not worthwhile, or excessive given the circumstances. It often implies that the effort, emotion, or risk involved outweighs the potential benefit or the importance of the situation.
Examples
为了这么一点小事就大发雷霆，犯不着吧？
Wèile zhème yīdiǎn xiǎoshì jiù dàfāliéitíng, fàn bù zháo ba?
Is it really worth getting so furious over such a trivial matter?
你犯不着跟他置气，他这人一向不讲道理。
Nǐ fàn bù zháo gēn tā zhìqì, tā zhè rén yīxiàng bùjiǎng dàolǐ.
It's not worth getting angry at him; he has always been unreasonable.
为了这种没把握的投资去贷款，我看犯不着。
Wèile zhè zhǒng méi bǎwò de tóuzī qù dàikuǎn, wǒ kàn fàn bù zháo.
Taking out a loan for such an uncertain investment is not worth it, in my opinion.
Common mistakes
Mixing up '犯不着' with '用不着'. While '用不着' means 'no need' in a general sense, '犯不着' specifically emphasizes that the action is too costly or a 'waste' of emotion/effort relative to the situation.
Tip
Think of '犯不着' as 'it doesn't pay to...' or 'it's not worth the trouble.' It is frequently used in spoken Chinese to advise others to stay calm or avoid unnecessary risks.
More HSK 7-9 grammar
See 犯不着 in real Chinese
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