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不

HSK 1
  • Negation

Structure (结构 jiégòu)

Subject不Verb / Adjective

Meaning (意思 yìsi)

The adverb 不 is used to negate actions in the present or future, or to negate a fact or habit.

Explanation (解释 jiěshì)

The adverb 不 (bù) is the most common form of negation, used for the present, future, or habitual actions. It is placed directly before a verb or adjective.

The key difference from 没 (méi) is that 不 is not used for actions that have already occurred in the past. For example, "yesterday I didn't go" must be expressed as 昨天我没去.

Note on pronunciation: when 不 precedes another 4th-tone syllable, it undergoes tone sandhi and is pronounced in the 2nd tone, read as bú. For example: 不是 (bú shì), 不去 (bú qù).

Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)

  1. 我不吃米饭。
    繁: 我不吃米飯。Wǒ bù chī mǐfàn.

    I don't eat rice.

  2. 他今天不高兴。
    繁: 他今天不高興。Tā jīntiān bù gāoxìng.

    He is not happy today.

  3. 我们明天不去学校。
    繁: 我們明天不去學校。Wǒmen míngtiān bú qù xuéxiào.

    We are not going to school tomorrow.

  4. 这不是我的书。
    繁: 這不是我的書。Zhè bú shì wǒ de shū.

    This is not my book.

  5. 她不喝咖啡。
    Tā bù hē kāfēi.

    She doesn't drink coffee.

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