ChineseGrammarWiki/MD/A1/28.mw.md

Use 没有 (méiyǒu) to negate past actions (to say that someone didn't do something, or something didn't happen).

Structure

Usually verbs can be negated with 不 (bù), but that construction is used for habitual or present actions. If the verb is about an action in the past, though, 没有 (méiyǒu) should be used:

Subj. + 没有 / 没 + Verb

Note that you can shorten 没有 (méiyǒu) to just 没 (méi).

Examples

• 我 没有 去 上班。Wǒ méiyǒu qù shàngbān.I didn't go to work.
• 他们 没有 说话。Tāmen méiyǒu shuōhuà.They didn't speak.
• 我 没有 喝 你 的 啤酒。Wǒ méiyǒu hē nǐ de píjiǔ.I didn't drink your beer.
• 她 没有 看到 你。Tā méiyǒu kàndào nǐ.She didn't see you.
• 我 没有 吃 早饭。Wǒ méiyǒu chī zǎofàn.I didn't eat breakfast.
• 宝宝 没 哭。有 has been omitted here.Bǎobao méi kū.The baby didn't cry.
• 你 昨天 没 回家 吗？Nǐ zuótiān méi huíjiā ma?You didn't go back home yesterday?
• 老板 今天 没 来 吗？ Lǎobǎn jīntiān méi​ lái ma?The boss didn't come today?
• 老师 今天 没 生气 。 Lǎoshī jīntiān méi shēngqì.The teacher didn't get angry today.
• 妈妈 晚上 没 做饭。 Māma wǎnshang méi zuòfàn.Mom didn't cook food this evening.

Go Easy on the 了 (le)

One thing you need to remember when using 没有 (méiyǒu) is that 了 (le) is not normally used with 没有 (méiyǒu). 了 (le) marks completed actions, while 没有 (méiyǒu) is used for actions that didn't happen (so of course they're not completed). These two don't work together. This is a very common mistake for beginner learners of Chinese.

• 我 没有 做 了 。Wǒ méiyǒu zuò le.
• 我 没有 做。Wǒ méiyǒu zuò.I didn't do it.

See also

• Negation of "you"
• Standard negation with "bu"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Practicing HSK Grammar (语法精讲精炼) (p. 32) →buy
• 现代汉语八百词（增订本） (p. 383) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 138-9) →buy

Videos

• Yoyo Chinese: Negation with 没

Category:A1 grammar points Category:Verbs Category:Adverbs