Este livro não cabe na bolsa, então eu vou levá-lo na mão.

Cabe comes from the verb caber, which means to fit.

So Este livro não cabe na bolsa means the book doesn’t fit in the bag.

A few useful forms of caber:

• cabe = it fits
• não cabe = it doesn’t fit
• caber is an irregular verb, so its forms do not follow the most basic pattern

Examples:

• O celular cabe no bolso. = The phone fits in the pocket.
• A mesa não cabe no carro. = The table doesn’t fit in the car.

Because in Portuguese, em + a normally contracts to na.

So:

• em + a bolsa = na bolsa

Other common contractions:

• em + o = no
• em + os = nos
• em + as = nas

Examples:

• no carro = in the car
• na mochila = in the backpack
• nos livros = in the books
• nas caixas = in the boxes

So na bolsa simply means in the bag.

Bolsa usually means a bag, often a handbag / purse in Brazilian Portuguese.

Depending on context, it can refer to:

• a purse
• a handbag
• a shoulder bag
• sometimes another kind of bag

So na bolsa here most naturally suggests in the purse/bag.

A learner should know that bag in English can map to different Portuguese words depending on the type:

• bolsa = purse/handbag/bag
• mochila = backpack
• mala = suitcase
• sacola = shopping bag/plastic bag

Traditionally:

• este = this, near the speaker
• esse = that, near the listener or previously mentioned
• aquele = that, over there

So Este livro literally means this book.

In everyday Brazilian Portuguese, though, the distinction between este and esse is often weaker than in formal grammar. Many speakers use esse where formal grammar would prefer este.

So:

• Este livro is correct and a bit more formal/careful
• In casual speech, many Brazilians might also say Esse livro

Então means so, then, or therefore, depending on context.

In this sentence, it connects the two ideas:

• The book doesn’t fit in the bag
• So I’m going to carry it in my hand

So então is functioning like so in English.

Examples:

• Estou cansado, então vou dormir. = I’m tired, so I’m going to sleep.
• Não tenho dinheiro, então não vou comprar. = I don’t have money, so I’m not going to buy it.

Eu vou levar is the very common near future / periphrastic future in Portuguese:

• vou + infinitive

It works a lot like I’m going to carry/take in English.

So:

• eu vou levar = I’m going to take/carry
• levarei = I will take/carry

In Brazilian Portuguese, vou + infinitive is extremely common in everyday speech and often sounds more natural than the simple future.

Examples:

• Vou sair agora. = I’m going to leave now.
• Vou comprar um livro. = I’m going to buy a book.

This is a very common learner question.

Levā-lo is formed from:

• levar = to take/carry
• lo = him/it, referring to a masculine singular direct object

When certain object pronouns are attached to an infinitive ending in -r, the final -r drops, and an accent is added to keep the stress natural.

So:

• levar + lo → levá-lo

The same pattern happens with other verbs:

• comer + o → comê-lo
• abrir + a → abri-la
• fazer + o → fazê-lo

Here, lo refers to o livro, which is masculine singular.

Yes, this is about object pronouns.

In more formal or careful Portuguese, especially in writing, you often see clitic pronouns attached to the verb:

• levá-lo = to carry it

Because livro is masculine singular, the pronoun is o, which becomes -lo after a verb like levar.

In everyday spoken Brazilian Portuguese, many people would more naturally say:

• vou levar ele na mão
• or simply repeat the noun: vou levar o livro na mão

So the difference is roughly:

• vou levá-lo na mão = more formal/written
• vou levar ele na mão = very common in speech in Brazil

Both are understandable, but the sentence you were given sounds more grammar-focused or written-style.

Because it refers back to livro, and livro is a masculine singular noun.

Portuguese object pronouns agree with the gender and number of what they replace:

• o / lo = masculine singular
• a / la = feminine singular
• os / los = masculine plural
• as / las = feminine plural

So:

• o livro → levá-lo
• a bolsa → levá-la
• os livros → levá-los
• as bolsas → levá-las

Na mão literally means in the hand, but in natural English it often means in my hand or by hand / carried in the hand.

So here:

• vou levá-lo na mão = I’m going to carry it in my hand

Portuguese often uses the singular mão in expressions like this even when English might say in my hands or just carry it by hand, depending on context.

It does not necessarily emphasize one hand versus two hands; it just means the book will be carried manually, not inside the bag.

Yes, it could.

Portuguese often drops subject pronouns when the verb already makes the subject clear:

• vou levar already tells you the subject is I

So both are possible:

• então eu vou levá-lo na mão
• então vou levá-lo na mão

Including eu can:

• add emphasis
• make the sentence slightly clearer
• sound more natural in some contexts

Brazilian Portuguese uses subject pronouns more often than European Portuguese, so eu is not strange here at all.

Here it can be understood as carry.

The verb levar is broad and can mean:

• to take
• to carry
• to bring along in some contexts

In this sentence, because of na mão, the idea is specifically that the speaker will carry the book in their hand.

So while levar often translates as take, the most natural English meaning here is:

• I’m going to carry it in my hand

Yes, it is correct and understandable, but it sounds a bit more formal because of levá-lo.

A very natural spoken Brazilian Portuguese version might be:

• Esse livro não cabe na bolsa, então eu vou levar ele na mão.
• or Este livro não cabe na bolsa, então vou levar o livro na mão.

The original sentence is perfectly fine, especially for:

• written Portuguese
• textbooks
• grammar practice
• more careful speech

So the main thing that makes it feel less conversational is the clitic form levá-lo, not the overall meaning.