更受不起李家的嫁妆
“and I certainly cannot accept this dowry!”
THE DIALOGUE REEL
“I don't deserve such kindness from the Li family...”
更 受不起 李家的 嫁妆
“and I certainly cannot accept this dowry!”
“Please go back and tell the main branches”
“I reject your marriage arrangement and want nothing from your family.”
Declaring oneself unworthy to receive gifts or favors is a traditional Chinese pragmatic strategy to firmly reject offers without directly insulting the giver.
LEARNING CHUNKS & PARTICLES
cannot bear; cannot accept (due to unworthiness or overwhelming burden)
Use to decline gifts, compliments, or favors with formal modesty or decisive refusal.
VOCABULARY & EXPRESSIONS
Parallel Spoken Cinema Scenes (语义近邻切片)
“to you and the Li family.”
“the entire Li family.”
“we haven't taken a single thing from the Li family.”
“with the Li family,”
“incapable of sustaining the Li family.”
“and I must give the Li family an explanation.”