Standard negation with "bu"

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 都 不 喝 酒。Wǒmen dōu bù hē jiǔ.We all 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？Wèishéme nǐ bù xǐhuan hē kāfēi?Why don't you like to drink coffee?

Almost all verbs can be negated with 不 (bù) (unless you're talking about the past). The only verb that can never be negated with 不 (bù) is 有 (yǒu).

• 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。Zhè ge bù guì.This is not expensive.
• 我们 公司 不 大。Wǒmen gōngsī bù dà.Our 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

• Negation of "you"
• Negation of past actions with "meiyou"

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