爱不释手ài bú shì shǒuto like sth so much that one is reluctant to put it down; to find sth utterly irresistible

1. 1.

   to like sth so much that one is reluctant to put it down; to find sth utterly irresistibleidiom

Figurative meaning

To like something so much that one is reluctant to put it down; to find something utterly irresistible.

• 爱to love; to be fond of; to like
• 不not
• 释to release
• 手hand

No attested origin story

爱不释手 can follow 对 + a thing to say what someone cannot put down.

1. HSK 1

   这本书很好看，我爱不释手。

   Zhè běn shū hěn hǎokàn, wǒ ài bú shì shǒu.

   This book is so good that I can't put it down.

2. HSK 5

   孩子对新玩具爱不释手。

   Háizi duì xīn wánjù ài bú shì shǒu.

   The child can't put the new toy down.

1. 
   Speaker A:

   这是我的生日礼物。

   Zhè shì wǒ de shēngrì lǐwù.

   This is my birthday present.

2. 
   Speaker B:

   真漂亮！

   Zhēn piàoliang!

   It's really pretty!

3. 
   Speaker A:

   是啊，我爱不释手。

   Shì a, wǒ ài bú shì shǒu.

   Yes, I can't put it down.

4. 
   Speaker B:

   难怪你一直拿着它。

   Nánguài nǐ yìzhí ná zhe tā.

   No wonder you keep holding it.

1. 1.What does 爱不释手 mean?

   ATo be unable to put something down because you like it so muchBTo give something awayCTo hold hands with someone
2. 2.Which sentence uses 爱不释手 correctly?

   A孩子对新玩具爱不释手。B我很累，爱不释手。C他爱不释手地跑步。
3. 3.Which word fits best? 这本书很好看，我____。 (This book is so good that I can't put it down.)

   A乱七八糟B爱不释手C打草惊蛇

• Free HSK 3 level testSee which HSK 3.0 level your vocabulary matches.
• HSK 7–9 word listEvery word at this level, with examples.
• HSK 3.0 guideHow the nine levels and three bands work.

Related idioms

• 不可思议bù kě sī yìinconceivable; unimaginable; unfathomableHSK 7–9
• 不知不觉bù zhī bù jué(idiom) unconsciously; unwittinglyHSK 7–9
• 不知所措bù zhī suǒ cuònot knowing what to doHSK 7–9
• 不约而同bù yuē ér tóng(idiom) (of two or more people) to take the same action without prior consultation; (usu. used adverbially) all (or both) of them, independently; as if by prior agreementHSK 7–9
• 不言而喻bù yán ér yù(idiom) it goes without saying; it is self-evidentHSK 7–9
• 与众不同yǔ zhòng bù tóng(idiom) to stand out from the crowd; distinctive; different from the restHSK 7–9

Browse every entry in the Chinese idioms dictionary.