You can't mean that Meaning in English

expression

US

YOO KANT MEEN THAT

UK

YOO KAHNT MEEN THAT

Definition

This expression is used when you hear something surprising, upsetting, or hard to believe, and you want to express doubt or shock about what someone just said.

Usage & Nuances

Informal and used in spoken English, typically to express disbelief, disagreement, or shock. Often said with strong emotion. Can be serious or playful depending on context. Do not use in formal writing.

• Spanish: no puedes decir eso - no puedes hablar en serio
• Portuguese (BR): você não pode estar falando sério - você não pode querer dizer isso
• Portuguese (PT): não podes estar a falar a sério - não podes querer dizer isso
• Chinese (Simplified): 你不是认真的吧 - 你不会是这个意思吧
• Chinese (Traditional): 你不是認真的吧 - 你不會是這個意思吧
• Hindi: तुम ऐसा सच में नहीं कह सकते - तुम यह नहीं कह सकते
• Arabic: أنت لا تعني ذلك حقًا - لا يمكن أن تكون جادًا
• Bengali: আপনি এটা সত্যিই বলছেন না - আপনি এটা মেনে নিতে পারেন না
• Russian: Ты не можешь говорить это всерьёз - Ты же не серьёзно
• Japanese: 本気じゃないでしょう - そんなこと言うなんて信じられない
• Vietnamese: Bạn không nói thật đấy chứ - Bạn không thể nghiêm túc như vậy được
• Korean: 진심이 아니지 - 설마 그렇게 생각해
• Turkish: Bunu gerçekten demek istemiyorsun - Cidden mi söylüyorsun
• Urdu: آپ یہ تو نہیں کہہ سکتے - آپ واقعی سنجیدہ نہیں ہیں
• Indonesian: Kamu tidak sungguh-sungguh maksud itu - Masa sih kamu serius

Example Sentences

You can't mean that! That's too much money for a sandwich.

basic

Are you serious? You can't mean that about quitting your job.

basic

You can't mean that—I know you love chocolate!

basic

Come on, you can't mean that—nobody likes waking up at 5 a.m.!

natural

Wait, you can't mean that about moving abroad next month—are you really going?

natural

Seriously, you can't mean that—did the boss actually say we have to work Saturday?

natural