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 right before a negated predicate:

Subj. + 不是 + 不 / 没 + Predicate

This pattern uses modal verbs like 会, 能, or 可能, which are negated before a negated predicate:

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

The predicate part of either 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 a Singular 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 + [Singular 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.In our school there wasn't a single student who didn't take the national college entrance exam.

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