Unbreakable in Chinese
The Chinese word for unbreakable is 坚不可摧 (jiān bù kě cuī). A four-character idiom: so firm it cannot be destroyed. In traditional characters it is written 堅不可摧.
jiān bù kě cuī
Unbreakable
What 坚不可摧 means.
坚不可摧 means “so firm that nothing can destroy it”. It is used for strong defences, unshakable friendships and a will that does not give way.
- 坚
- firm, solid
- 不
- not
- 可
- can
- 摧
- to break, destroy
Simplified and traditional
坚不可摧
堅不可摧
Both are correct and mean the same. Traditional 堅不可摧 keeps the older, fuller shape that calligraphy grew up with; simplified 坚不可摧 is what most Chinese readers use today. Our seal and clerical styles write it in the traditional form.
About unbreakable in Chinese
How do you write unbreakable in Chinese?
Unbreakable is 坚不可摧 in Chinese, pronounced jiān bù kě cuī. Unbreakable 坚 means “firm, solid”, 不 means “not”, 可 means “can”, 摧 means “to break, destroy”.
How do you pronounce 坚不可摧?
Say jiān (first tone, high and level), bù (fourth tone, falling), kě (third tone, dipping), cuī (first tone, high and level). Mandarin tones change meaning, so it is worth listening to a native speaker once.
Is 坚不可摧 different in traditional Chinese?
Yes. The traditional form is 堅不可摧, used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and classical calligraphy; 坚不可摧 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore. Both are correct.
Is 坚不可摧 a good Chinese tattoo?
Yes, it is a real, everyday Chinese word rather than a machine translation, so Chinese readers will understand it. Keep the characters in their order, top to bottom or left to right, and never mirrored. Choose a readable style such as Kaishu, bring a clean reference to your artist, and show it to a fluent reader before your appointment.