30.mw.md 4.6 KB
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).
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 不 喝 酒。Wǒmen bù hējiǔ.We 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？Wèishénme nǐ bù xǐhuan hē kāfēi?Why don't you like to drink coffee?
- 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。Zhège bù guì.This is not expensive.
- 公司 不 大。Gōngsī bù dà.The 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) →buy
- Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (p. 45) →buy
- Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 146-150) →buy
Videos
- Yoyo Chinese: Negation word 不
Category:A1 grammar points Category:Verbs Category:Adverbs