Standard negation with "bù" "不"
不 (bù) is generally used to negate a verb 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).
Contents
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:
Subj. + 不 + Verb + Obj.
Examples
- 他们 不 是 坏 孩子。
Tāmen bù shì huài háizi.
They are not bad kids.
- 我们 都 不 喝 酒。
Wǒmen dōu bù hē jiǔ.
We all don't drink alcohol.
- 我 今天 不 想 工作 。
Wǒ jīntiān bù xiǎng gōngzuò .
I don't want to work today.
- 你 不 喜欢 我 吗？
Nǐ bù xǐhuan wǒ ma?
Do you not like me?
- 为什么 你 不 喜欢 喝 咖啡？
Wèishéme nǐ bù xǐhuan hē kāfēi?
Why don't you like to drink coffee?
Almost all verbs can be negated with 不 (bù) (unless you're talking about the past). The only verb that can never be negated with 不 (bù) is 有 (yǒu).
我 不有 时间。
Wǒ bù yǒu shíjiān.- 我 没有 时间。
Wǒ méiyǒu shíjiān. I don't have time.
Negating Adjectives
As it turns out, the structure with an adjective is basically the same as the one with a verb.
Structure
Subj. + 不 + Adj.
Examples
- 我 不 饿 。
Wǒ bù è .
I'm not hungry.
- 这 个 不 贵 。
Zhè ge bù guì .
This is not expensive.
- 我们 公司 不 大 。
Wǒmen gōngsī bù dà .
Our company is not big.
- 老板 今天 很 不 高兴 。
Lǎobǎn jīntiān hěn bù gāoxìng .
The boss is very unhappy today.
- 我 哥哥 不 高 ，但是 很 帅。
Wǒ gēge bù gāo , dànshì hěn shuài.
My older brother is not tall, but he is very handsome.
See also
Sources and Further Reading
Books
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (p. 31)
- Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (p. 45)
- Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 146-150)
Videos
- Yoyo Chinese: Negation word 不