Expressing "not at all" with "yidianr ye bu"

Sometimes we may want to say something is "not even the least bit [adjective]." For example, we might say in English: "I am not at all hungry." In Chinese, we can use 一点也不 (yīdiǎnr yě bù) or 一点都不 (yīdiǎnr dōu bù) to express "not at all [adjective]."

Used with Adjectives

The phrases 一点(儿)也不 and 一点(儿)都不 can both be used to express "not at all."

Structure

Subj. + 一点(儿) + 也 / 都 + 不 + Adj.

Examples

• 那个 问题 一点儿 也 不 难 。Nàge wèntí yīdiǎnr yě bù nán.That question isn't difficult at all.
• 这个 菜 一点 都 不 好吃 。Zhège cài yīdiǎn dōu bù hǎochī.This dish isn't tasty at all.
• 我 同事 一点 都 不 幽默 。Wǒ tóngshì yīdiǎn dōu bù yōumò.My colleague is not humorous at all.
• 这个 笑话 一点 也 不 好笑 。Zhège xiàohuà yīdiǎn yě bù hǎoxiào.This joke isn't funny at all.

Used with Verbs

This describes the Subj. as being "not at all adjective" or "not even slightly adjective." Psychological verbs can also appear in place of the adjective in this structure.

Structure

Subj. + 一点 + 也 / 都 + 不 + [Verb Phrase]

Examples

• 我 一点 也 不 喜欢 奶酪 。Wǒ yīdiǎn yě bù xǐhuan nǎilào.I don't like cheese at all.
• 你 一点 也 不 会 说 吗 ？Nǐ yīdiǎn yě bù huì shuō ma?You can't speak at all?
• 她 一点 都 不 知道 这 件 事 。Tā yīdiǎn dōu bù zhīdào zhè jiàn shì.She doesn't know about this at all.
• 我 儿子 一点 都 不 爱 玩 游戏 。Wǒ érzi yīdiǎn dōu bù ài wán yóuxì.My son doesn't like to play games at all.

The phrases "一点也没 " and "一点都没 " can also be used to express "not at all ." This is used when the statement uses or implies the verb negative form of 有 in the past.

• 我 一点 也 没 生气 。Wǒ yīdiǎn yě méi shēngqì.I wasn't angry at all.
• 她 一点 都 没 准备 。Tā yīdiǎn dōu méi zhǔnbèi.She didn't prepare at all.
• 作业 他 一点 都 没 做 ？Zuòyè tā yīdiǎn dōu méi zuò?He didn't do his homework at all?
• 这个 菜 你们 怎么 一点 也 没 吃 ？Zhège cài nǐmen zěnme yīdiǎn yě méi chī?Why didn't you eat this dish at all?

See also

• Expressing "not even one"
• Expressing "everything" with "shenme dou"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar (pp. 36-7) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (pp. 37- 9) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy

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