不 (bù) is generally used to negate a [verb](verb "wikilink") in the
present or future, or to talk about what you do not do, as a habit. So
expressing things like "I don't want to go" or "I'm not going" or "I
don't eat meat" would be typical uses of 不 (bù).

Negating Verbs
--------------

### Structure

The standard way to negate verbs in Chinese is with 不 (bù). To negate a
verb, simply place 不 (bù) before it:

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 不 + Verb + Obj.

</div>
### Examples

<div class="liju">
-   他们 <em>不</em> <strong>是</strong> 坏
    孩子。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen <em>bù</em> <strong>shì </strong>
    huài háizi.</span><span class="trans">They are not bad kids.</span>
-   我们 <em>不</em> <strong>喝</strong> 酒。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen
    <em>bù</em> <strong>hē</strong>jiǔ.</span><span class="trans">We
    don't drink alcohol.</span>
-   我 今天 <em>不</em> <strong>想
    工作</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ jīntiān <em>bù</em>
    <strong>xiǎng gōngzuò</strong>.</span><span class="trans">I don't
    want to work today.</span>
-   你 <em>不</em> <strong>喜欢</strong> 我 吗？<span class="pinyin"> Nǐ
    <em>bù</em> <strong>xǐhuan </strong> wǒ
    ma?</span><span class="trans">Do you not like me?</span>
-   为什么 你 <em>不</em> <strong>喜欢 喝</strong>
    咖啡？<span class="pinyin">Wèishénme nǐ <em>bù</em> <strong>xǐhuan
    hē </strong> kāfēi?</span><span class="trans">Why don't you like to
    drink coffee?</span>

</div>
Almost all verbs can be negated with 不 (bù) ([unless you're talking
about the past](Negation_of_past_actions_with_"meiyou" "wikilink")). The
only verb that can never be negated with 不 (bù) is [有
(yǒu)](Negation_of_"you"_with_"mei" "wikilink").

<div class="liju">
-   我 <em>不</em><strong>有</strong>时间。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ
    <em>bù </em><strong>yǒu</strong> shíjiān.</span>
-   我 <em>没</em><strong>有</strong>时间。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ
    <em>méi</em><strong>yǒu</strong>
    shíjiān.</span><span class="trans">I don't have time.</span>

</div>
Negating Adjectives
-------------------

As it turns out, the structure with an [adjective](adjective "wikilink")
is basically the same as the one with a verb.

### Structure

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 不 + Adj.

</div>
### Examples

<div class="liju">
-   我 <em>不</em> <strong>饿</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ
    <em>bù</em> <strong>è</strong>.</span><span class="trans">I'm not
    hungry.</span>
-   这 个 <em>不</em> <strong>贵</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Zhège
    <em>bù</em> <strong>guì</strong>.</span><span class="trans">This is
    not expensive.</span>
-   公司 <em>不</em> <strong>大</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Gōngsī
    <em>bù</em> <strong>dà</strong>.</span><span class="trans">The
    company is not big.</span>
-   老板 今天 很 <em>不</em>
    <strong>高兴</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn jīntiān hěn
    <em>bù</em> <strong>gāoxìng </strong>.</span><span class="trans">The
    boss is very unhappy today.</span>
-   我 哥哥 <em>不</em> <strong>高</strong>，但是 很
    帅。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ gēge <em>bù</em> <strong>gāo </strong>,
    dànshì hěn shuài.</span><span class="trans">My older brother is not
    tall, but he is very handsome.</span>

</div>
See also
--------

-   [Negation of "you" with
    "mei"](Negation_of_"you"_with_"mei" "wikilink")
-   [Negation of past actions with
    "meiyou"](Negation_of_past_actions_with_"meiyou" "wikilink")

Sources and Further Reading
---------------------------

### Books

-   [Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1
    (3rd ed)](Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_1_(3rd_ed) "wikilink") (p.
    31)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385)
-   [Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second
    Edition](Chinese:_An_Essential_Grammar,_Second_Edition "wikilink") (p.
    45)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615)
-   [Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical
    Guide](Modern_Mandarin_Chinese_Grammar:_A_Practical_Guide "wikilink") (pp.
    146-150)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108)

### Videos

-   Yoyo Chinese: [Negation word
    不](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=340G2Sw4Z50&list=PL94A5E422FB99CDDD)

[Category:A1 grammar points](Category:A1_grammar_points "wikilink")
<Category:Verbs> <Category:Adverbs>