Expressing "not at all" with "yidianr ye bu"

Sometimes we may want to say something is "not even the least bit [adjective]." For example, we might say in English: "I am not at all hungry." In Chinese, we can use 一点(儿)也不 (yīdiǎnr yě bù) or 一点(儿)都不 (yīdiǎnr dōu bù) to express "not at all [adjective]."

1 Used with Adjectives

1.1 Structure
1.2 Examples

2 Used with Verbs

2.1 Structure
2.2 Examples

3 See also
4 Sources and further reading

4.1 Books

Used with Adjectives

The phrases 一点(儿)也不 and 一点(儿)都不 can both be used to express "not at all."

Structure

Examples

那个问题一点儿也不难。 Nàge wèntí yīdiǎnr yě bù nán. That question isn't difficult at all.
这个菜一点都不好吃。 Zhège cài yīdiǎn dōu bù hǎochī. This dish isn't tasty at all.
我同事一点都不幽默。 Wǒ tóngshì yīdiǎn dōu bù yōumò. My colleague is not humorous at all.
这个笑话一点也不好笑。 Zhège xiàohuà yīdiǎn yě bù hǎoxiào. This joke isn't funny at all.

Used with Verbs

This describes the Subj. as being "not at all adjective" or "not even slightly adjective." Psychological verbs can also appear in place of the adjective in this structure.

Structure

Examples

我一点也不喜欢奶酪。 Wǒ yīdiǎn yě bù xǐhuan nǎilào. I don't like cheese at all.
你一点也不会说吗？ Nǐ yīdiǎn yě bù huì shuō ma? You can't speak at all?
她一点都不知道这件事。 Tā yīdiǎn dōu bù zhīdào zhè jiàn shì. She doesn't know about this at all.
我儿子一点都不爱玩游戏。 Wǒ érzi yīdiǎn dōu bù ài wán yóuxì. My son doesn't like to play games at all.

The phrases "一点也没 " and "一点都没 " can also be used to express "not at all ." This is used when the statement uses or implies the verb negative form of 有 in the past.

我一点也没生气。 Wǒ yīdiǎn yě méi shēngqì. I wasn't angry at all.
她一点都没准备。 Tā yīdiǎn dōu méi zhǔnbèi. She didn't prepare at all.
作业他一点都没做？ Zuòyè tā yīdiǎn dōu méi zuò? He didn't do his homework at all?
这个菜你们怎么一点也没吃？ Zhège cài nǐmen zěnme yīdiǎn yě méi chī? Why didn't you eat this dish at all?

Expressing "not at all" with "yidianr ye bu"

Contents

Used with Adjectives

Structure

Examples

Used with Verbs

Structure

Examples

See also

Sources and further reading

Books