Can I replace 可以不用 with 不需要？
&quot;可以不用&quot; and &quot;不需要&quot; can be used interchangeably when it means 'don't need to' and followed by a verb or verb phrase
Example:
[可以不用][付钱] = [不需要][付钱] = [don't need to] [pay]
[可以不用][用糖] = [不需要][用糖] = [don't need to] [use sugar]
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&quot;可以不用&quot; (able to/ allow to not use) followed by a noun and &quot;不需要&quot; (don't need) followed by a noun, have different meanings
Example:
[不需要][糖]= [don't need] [sugar]
[可以][不用][糖] = [able to/ allowed to][not use][sugar]
Example of &quot;可以不用糖&quot; in context:

&quot;我可以不用糖做甜品嗎？&quot; (Can I make dessert not using sugar?)

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[(可以不用)(用糖)] = [(don't need to) (use sugar)].
It is grammatically correct, but &quot;可以不用用糖&quot; (don't need to use sugar) may sound a little bit awkward in Chinese (two 用 back to back). Better change it to 不需要用糖

&quot;不需要 + verb&quot; = &quot;don't need to + verb&quot;

&quot;不需要 + noun&quot; = &quot;don't need + noun&quot;

&quot;可以不用 + verb&quot; = &quot;don't need to + verb&quot;

&quot;可以 + 不用 + noun&quot; = &quot;able to/allowed to + not use + noun&quot;



Can I replace 可以不用 with 不需要？

Yes, but only when it means 'don't need to' and followed by a verb, not noun

平时可以不用计步软件或运动手环

计步软件 is a noun, therefore, &quot;可以不用计步软件&quot; means &quot;able to/ allowed to not use steps counting app&quot;