3.7: Lesson 2 Grammar - Standard negation with 不 (bù)

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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).

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 hē jiǔ.
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?

Almost all verbs can be negated with 不 (bù), unless you are referring to a past event. We will learn later on how to use 没 (méi) as a negation particle when talking about the past. The only verb that can never be negated with 不 (bù) is 有 (yǒu).

我不有时间。 << BAD EXAMPLE, NEVER SAY IT THIS WAY
Wǒ bù yǒu shíjiān.
我没有时间。<< GOOD EXAMPLE
Wǒ méiyǒu shíjiān.
I don't have time.

Negating Stative Verbs ("Adjectives")

As it turns out, the structure with a stative verb (or "adjective") is basically the same as the one with an action 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.

[adapted from AllSet Learning Chinese Grammar Wiki, Creative Commons License BY-NC-SA 3.0]

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Any Questions?

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