Expressing "double negation"

There are two main methods for double negation. The simpler method is to use a double negative with modal verbs like 会 or 能. The more complicated method is to negate both the subject and the predicate.

Negation Before a Negative Word

Structure

This pattern just uses 不是:

Subj. + 不是 + 不 / 没 + Predicate

This pattern uses modal verbs like 会, 能, or 可能:

Subj. + 不 + 会 / 能 / 可能 + 不 / 没 + Predicate

The predicate part of the pattern can be a verb or an adjective.

Examples

• 他 不 会 不 来 的 。Tā bù huì bù lái de.There is no way he's not coming.
• 她 不 可能 不 知道 。Tā bù kěnéng bù zhīdào.There is no way she doesn't know about this.
• 她 太 害羞 了 ，不是 不 礼貌 。Tā tài hàixiū le, bù shì bù lǐmào.She's too shy; It's not that she's not polite.
• 他 不是 没有 钱 ，是 不 想 乱 花 钱 。Tā bù shì méiyǒu qián, shì bù xiǎng luàn huā qián.It's not that he doesn't have money; it's just he doesn't want to spend it recklessly.
• 我 知道 你 想 减肥 ，但是 不 能 不 吃 早饭 。Wǒ zhīdào nǐ xiǎng jiǎnféi, dànshì bù néng bù chī zǎofàn.I know you want to lose weight, but you can't not eat breakfast.

Negation before Single Noun

This structure is used for saying things like "not a single one." often with topic comments. 没有一个人 ("not a single person") is equivalent to 没有谁 ("not anyone").

Structure

(Topic +) 没有 + [Single Noun] + 不 / 没 + Predicate + 的

Examples

• 没有 一 个 人 不 讨厌 他 的 。 Méiyǒu yī gè rén bù tǎoyàn tā de.There is not one person who doesn't dislike him.
• 这些 菜 没有 一 个 不 辣 的 。Zhèxiē cài méiyǒu yī gè bù là de.There is no single one that is not spicy among these dishes.
• 我们 公司 的 员工 没有 一 个 不 会 说 英语 的 。Wǒmen gōngsī de yuángōng méiyǒu yī gè bù huì shuō Yīngyǔ de.Our company doesn't have a single employee who can't speak English.
• 他 的 女朋友 没有 一 个 不 漂亮 的 。Tā de nǚpéngyou méiyǒu yī gè bù piàoliang de.None of his girlfriends were not beautiful.
• 我们 学校 的 学生 没有 一 个 没 参加 高考 的 。Wǒmen xuéxiào de xuéshēng méiyǒu yī gè méi cānjiā gāokǎo de.There wasn't a single student who didn't take the college entrance exam in our school.