ChineseGrammarWiki/ancien/Chinese-Grammar-Wiki/MD/A1/30.mw

{{Grammar Box}}

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:

<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) ([[Negation of past actions with "meiyou"|unless you're talking about the past]]). The only verb that can never be negated with 不 (bù) is [[Negation of "you" with "mei"|有 (yǒu)]].

<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li class="x">我 <em>不</em><strong>有</strong>时间。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>bù </em><strong>yǒu</strong> shíjiān.</span></li>
<li class="o">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></li>
</ul>
</div>

== Negating Adjectives ==

As it turns out, the structure with an [[adjective]] 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 past actions with "meiyou"]]

== Sources and Further Reading ==

=== Books ===

* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (p. 31) [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 →buy]
* [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (p. 45) [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 →buy]
* [[Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide]] (pp. 146-150) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 →buy]

===Videos===

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

[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
[[Category:Verbs]]
[[Category:Adverbs]]
{{Used for|Negating}}
{{Used for|Describing actions}}
{{Used for|Denying and refusing}}
{{Used for|Referring to the present}}
{{Used for|Referring to the future}}
{{Used for|Referring to habitual actions}}
{{Basic Grammar|不|A1|不 + Verb / Adj.|他们 <em>不</em> 是 坏 孩子。|grammar point|ASGIPYFV}}
{{Similar|Negation of "you" with "mei"}}  
{{Similar|Negation of past actions with "meiyou"}}
{{Similar|Connecting nouns with "shi"}}    
{{Similar|Basic sentence order}} 
{{Similar|Comparing "bu" and "mei"}}       
{{POS|Verbs}}
{{Subprop|Verb phrases}}
{{Translation|not}}