Difference between revisions of "Comparing "bu" and "mei""
 
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{{Grammar Box}}
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{{Grammar Box}}  
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都是否定副词，都可以用在动词前面，但是使用时间不一样。
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Both [[不|不 (bù)]] and [[没|没 (méi)]] can be placed in front of a verb or adjective to negate its meaning.  However, 不 (bù) and 没 (méi) are not usually interchangeable, so it's important to learn when you must use 不 (bù) as opposed to 没 (méi), and vice versa.
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Both 不（bù) and 没 (méi) can be placed in front of a verb or adverb to negate its meaning.  不 and 没 are some times interchangeable. However, there are times when you must use 不 as opposed to 没 and vice versa.
 
  
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== 不 ==
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== 不 (bù) Negates in the Present and Future ==
  
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“不”一般是表达不想做的事情。
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不 (bù) is generally used to negate an action that you ''do not want to do'' or ''do not intend to do'' (in the future).  So expressing things like "I don't want to go" or "I'm not going" would be uses of 不 (bù).
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不 is generally used to express an action that you do not want to do.  
 
  
 
===Structure===
 
===Structure===
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
−
Subject + 不 + V.
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Subj. + 不 + Verb
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</div>
 +
 
 +
=== Examples ===
 +
 
 +
Whether it's "don't wanna do it"  or "not gonna do it," use 不 (bù):
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
 
 +
* 我 今天 晚上 <em>不</em> 喝酒。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ jīntiān wǎnshang <em>bù</em> hējiǔ.</span><span class="trans">Tonight I'm not going to drink.</span>
 +
* 爸爸  <em>不</em> 回来 吃 晚饭。<span class="pinyin">Bàba <em>bù</em> huílái chī wǎnfàn.</span><span class="trans">Dad is not coming back to eat dinner.</span>
 +
* 老板 明天 <em>不</em> 来 。<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn míngtiān <em>bù</em> lái.</span><span class="trans">The boss won't come tomorrow.</span>
 +
* 我 知道 这 个 周末 <em>不</em> 下雨。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zhīdào zhège zhōumò <em>bù</em> xiàyǔ.</span><span class="trans">I know it's not going to rain this weekend.</span>
 +
* 你 女朋友 <em>不</em> 跟 你 一起 去 吗？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ nǚpéngyou <em>bù</em> gēn nǐ yīqǐ qù ma? </span><span class="trans">Is your girlfriend not going with you? </span>
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
== 不 (bù) Negates Habitual Actions ==
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 +
不 (bù) can be used to negate habitual actions, to express what you just aren't in the habit of doing, such as eating meat, or watching TV, or drinking alcohol.  This is simply done by placing 不 (bù) in front of the verb.
 +
 
 +
===Structure===
 +
 
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
Subj. + 不 + Verb + Obj.
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
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*我 今天 晚上 <em>不</em> 吃 饭。
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* 我 <em>不</em> 吃 肉。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>bù</em> chī ròu.</span><span class="trans">I don't eat meat.</span>
−
*他 <em>不</em> 去 公园。
+
* 你们 都 <em>不</em> 喝酒 吗？<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen dōu <em>bù</em> hējiǔ ma?</span><span class="trans">Do you all not drink alcohol?</span>
 +
* 他 <em>不</em> 喜欢 说话。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>bù</em> xǐhuan shuōhuà.</span><span class="trans">He doesn't like to speak.</span>
 +
* 你 <em>不</em> 用 手机 看书 吗？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>bù</em>  yòng shǒujī kàn shū ma?</span><span class="trans">Do you not use your phone to read books? </span>
 +
* 你 晚上 <em>不</em> 洗澡 吗？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ wǎnshang <em>bù</em> xǐzǎo ma? </span><span class="trans">Don't you shower at night?</span>
 +
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
 +
 +
Please note that, while it is grammatically correct to use 没 (méi) in all the sentences above, 没 (méi) does not negate any ''habitual'' actions. The sentences above, if they contained 没 (méi) instead of 不 (bù), would express that the speaker ''didn't do'' the named activity (at one particular point ''in the past'').  So it would not be about ''habitual actions''.
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 +
== 不 (bù) Is Normally Used with Adjectives ==
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 +
When it comes to a simple negation of an adjective (such as "not cold"), use 不 (bù).
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 +
===Structure===
 +
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
不 + Adj.
 +
</div>
 +
 +
=== Examples ===
 +
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
 +
* 我们 <em>不</em> 饿。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>bù</em> è.</span><span class="trans">We're not hungry.</span>
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* 你 <em>不</em> 胖。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>bù</em> pàng.</span><span class="trans">You are not fat.</span>
 +
* 我 家 <em>不</em> 远。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ jiā <em>bù</em> yuǎn.</span><span class="trans">My home is not far.</span>
 +
* 今天 <em>不</em> 冷。<span class="pinyin">Jīntiān <em>bù</em> lěng.</span><span class="trans">Today it isn't cold.</span>
 +
* 我 觉得 Starbucks 的 咖啡 <em>不</em> 好喝。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ juéde Starbucks de kāfēi <em>bù</em> hǎohē.</span><span class="trans">I think the coffee at Starbucks isn't good.</span>
 +
 +
</div>
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 +
== 不 (bù) Is for Asking Questions ==
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 +
There are couple ways to use 不 (bù) to ask questions. One such way is through [[Affirmative-negative_question|affirmative-negative questions]]. This is done by stating a verb and then immediately repeating that verb in a negative state (with 不 (bù)).
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 +
===Structure===
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 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
Subj. + Verb + 不 + Verb + Obj.
 +
</div>
 +
 +
===Examples===
 +
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
* 你 是 不<em>是</em> 我 的 老师？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ shì <em>bu</em> shì wǒ de lǎoshī? </span><span class="trans">Are you my teacher or not? </span>
 +
* 她 想 <em>不 </em> 想 来？<span class="pinyin">Tā xiǎng <em>bu</em> xiǎnglái? </span><span class="trans">Does she want to come?</span>
 +
* 你 爱 <em>不</em> 爱 我？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ ài <em>bu</em> ài wǒ? </span><span class="trans">Do you love me or not? </span>
 +
* 你们 周末 上 <em>不</em> 上班？<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen zhōumò shàng <em>bu</em> shàngbān? </span><span class="trans">Do you all go to work on weekends? </span>
 +
* 你 的 外国 朋友们 喜 <em>不</em> 喜欢 吃 中国菜？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ de wàiguó péngyoumen xǐ <em>bu</em> xǐhuan chī Zhōngguó cài? </span><span class="trans">Do your foreign friends like to eat Chinese food? </span>
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</div>
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 +
不 (bù) can also be used to form [[Tag questions with "bu"|tag questions]].  Tag questions use the positive-negative question form, but are placed at the end of the sentence. Tag questions are used to seek approval or acceptance for a statement, very similar to the English "OK?" or "right?"  You can't use 没 (méi) for this.
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
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<li class="o">明天 我 <em>不</em> 在 家。</li>
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<li class="x">我们 去 吃饭 ，好 <strong>没</strong> 好？<span class="pinyin"> Wǒmen qù chīfàn, hǎo <strong>méi</strong> hǎo? </span></li>
−
<li class="x">上周 我 <em>不</em> 和 我 的 朋友 在 一起。</li>
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<li class="o">我们 去 吃饭 ，好 <em>不</em> 好？<span class="pinyin"> Wǒmen qù chīfàn, hǎo <em>bu</em> hǎo? </span><span class="trans">Let's go eat, is that OK? </span></li>
 +
<li class="x">你们 是 好 朋友 ，对 <strong>没</strong> 对？<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen shì hǎo péngyou, duì <strong>méi</strong> duì? </span></li>
 +
<li class="o">你们 是 好 朋友 ，对 <em>不</em> 对？<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen shì hǎo péngyou, duì <em>bu</em> duì? </span><span class="trans">You are good friends, right?</span></li>
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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== 没 ==
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== 没 (méi) Negates Past Actions ==
  
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“没”用于描述过去，说明动作没有发生。很多时候和“有”一起用，意思和用法不变。
+
没 (méi) and 没有 (méiyǒu) can both be used to [[Negation of past actions with "meiyou"|negate actions that occurred in the past]], or to say that something has not happened yet.
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没 is used to describe actions in the past or illustrate an action that hasn’t happened yet.  Often times, 没 is used together with 有(yǒu) (the meaning and use do not change).
 
  
 
===Structure===
 
===Structure===
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
−
Subject + 没（有）+ V.
+
Subj. + 没(有) + Verb + Obj.
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
−
*昨天 晚上 我 <em>没</em> 吃 饭。
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<ul>
−
*他 <em>没有</em> 去 公园。
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<li class="o">他 <em>没有</em> 打 电话 给 我 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>méiyǒu</em> dǎ diànhuà gěi wǒ.</span><span class="trans">He did not give me a call.</span></li>
 +
<li class="o"> 你 <em>没</em> 去 上班 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>méi</em> qù shàngbān ma? </span><span class="trans">You didn't go to work? </span></li>
 +
<li class="o">我 昨天 <em>没</em> 喝酒。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zuótiān <em>méi</em> hējiǔ.</span><span class="trans">I did not drink alcohol yesterday.</span></li>
 +
<li class="o">妈妈 <em>没有</em> 做 晚饭。<span class="pinyin">Māma <em>méiyǒu</em> zuò wǎnfàn.</span><span class="trans">Mom did not cook dinner.</span></li>
 +
<li class="o">他们 吃 完 饭 以后 <em>没</em> 付 钱。<span class="pinyin"> Tāmen chī wán fàn yǐhòu <em>méi</em> fù qián.</span><span class="trans">They didn't pay after they finished eating.</span></li>
 +
<li class="x">我 昨天 <strong>不</strong> 喝酒。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zuótiān <strong>bù</strong> hējiǔ.</span><span class="trans">I not drink wine yesterday.</span></li>
 +
<li class="x">我 上个 周末 <strong>不</strong> 跟 他 见面。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ shàng gè zhōumò <strong>bù</strong> gēn tā jiànmiàn.</span><span class="trans">I not meet with him last weekend.</span></li>
 +
<li class="x"> 上个月 你  <strong>不</strong>  去 北京 吗？ <span class="pinyin"> Shàng gè yuè nǐ <strong>bù</strong> qù Běijīng? </span><span class="trans">You not go to Beijing last month?</span></li>
 +
</ul>
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
There are a few things worth noting in these examples. For one, it is still grammatically correct to leave out the 有 (yǒu) in the sentences using 没有 (méiyǒu).  Also, the sentences using 不 (bù) ''would be'' grammatically correct, if not for the time words telling us that it is definitely the '''past''' we're talking about.
 +
 
 +
== Only 没 (méi) Negates 有 (yǒu) ==
 +
 
 +
[[Negation of past actions with "meiyou"|没 (méi) can be used to negate the verb 有 (yǒu)]] ("to have") to mean "do not have." You can only use 没 (méi) to convey this meaning. It is grammatically incorrect to use 不 (bù) to negate 有 (yǒu).
 +
 
 +
=== Structure ===
 +
 
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
Subj. + 没有 + Obj.
 
</div>
 
</div>
 +
 +
=== Examples ===
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
−
<li class="x">明天 我 <em>没</em> 在 家。</li>
+
<li class="x">我 <strong>不 有</strong> 钱。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <strong>bù yǒu</strong> qián.</span></li>
−
<li class="o">上周 我 <em>没</em> 和 我 的 朋友 在 一起。</li>
+
<li class="o">我 <em>没有</em> 钱。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>méiyǒu</em> qián.</span><span class="trans">I don't have money.</span></li>
 +
<li class="x">他 <strong>不 有</strong> 女朋友。<span class="pinyin">Tā <strong>bù yǒu</strong> nǚpéngyou.</span></li>
 +
<li class="o">他 <em>没有</em> 女朋友。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>méiyǒu</em> nǚpéngyou.</span><span class="trans">He doesn't have a girlfriend.</span></li>
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 +
There are times when you can leave out 有 (yǒu) entirely while still expressing 没有 (méiyǒu), (meaning "to not have" or "there is no"). One well-known example of this is [[Inability with "mei banfa"|没办法 (méi bànfǎ)]] ("there is no way" [that's gonna happen]).  Both 没 (méi) and 没有 (méiyǒu) are correct, however.
 +
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
*我 <em>没</em> 办法。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>méi</em> bànfǎ.</span><span class="trans">I don't have a way.</span>
 +
*我 <em>没有</em> 办法。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>méiyǒu</em> bànfǎ.</span><span class="trans">I don't have a way.</span>
 +
</div>
 +
 +
(You can also [[Inability with "mei banfa"|use 没办法 (méi bànfǎ)]] to express other meanings.)
 +
 +
== 没 (méi) Is for Making Comparisons ==
 +
 +
没 (méi) or 没有 (méiyǒu) can be used to make [[basic comparisons with "meiyou"|simple comparisons]] meaning "not as... as...":
 +
 +
=== Structure ===
 +
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
Noun 1 + 没有 + Noun 2 + Adj.
 +
</div>
 +
 +
=== Examples ===
 +
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
<ul>
 +
<li class="x">你 <strong>不 有</strong> 我 高。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <strong>bù yǒu</strong> wǒ  gāo.</span></li>
 +
<li class="o">你 <em>没有</em> 我 高。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>méiyǒu</em> wǒ gāo.</span><span class="trans">You are not as tall as me.</span></li>
 +
<li class="x">我 的 手机 <strong>不 有</strong> 他 的 手机 贵。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ de shǒujī <strong>bù yǒu</strong> tā de shǒujī guì.</span></li>
 +
<li class="o">我 的 手机 <em>没有</em> 他 的 手机 贵。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ de shǒujī <em>méiyǒu</em> tā de shǒujī guì.</span><span class="trans">My cell phone isn't as expensive as his.</span></li>
 +
<li class="x"> 我们 都 <strong>不 有</strong> 老板 忙。<span class="pinyin"> Wǒmen dōu <strong>bù yǒu</strong> lǎobǎn máng.</span></li>
 +
<li class="o"> 我们 都 <em>没有</em>  老板 忙。<span class="pinyin"> Wǒmen dōu <em>méiyǒu</em>  lǎobǎn máng.</span><span class="trans">We all are not as busy as the boss.</span></li>
 +
<li class="x">上海 的 冬天 <strong>不 有</strong> 北京 的 冬天 冷。<span class="pinyin">  Shànghǎi de dōngtiān <strong>bù yǒu</strong> Běijīng de dōngtiān lěng.</span></li>
 +
<li class="o">上海 的 冬天 <em>没有</em>  北京 的 冬天 冷。<span class="pinyin"> Shànghǎi de dōngtiān <em>méiyǒu</em> Běijīng de dōngtiān lěng.</span><span class="trans">Shanghai winters are not as cold Beijing winters.</span></li>
 +
</ul>
 +
</div>
  
−
== Difference between 不 and 没 ==
+
You can only use 没 (méi) or 没有 (méiyǒu) for this purpose, and '''not''' 不 (bù).
  
−
===没有===
+
== 不 (bù) Is Used Almost Exclusively with Certain Verbs ==
  
−
== Dialog ==
+
Certain verbs just don't get negated by 没 (méi) or 没有 (méiyǒu) ever.  These include the verbs 是 (shì) ("to be") and 在 (zài) ("to be (in a place)"), as well as some psychological verbs such as 知道 (zhīdào) ("to know") and 认识 (rènshi) ("to know (a person)").  For these verbs, it's best to just take them on a case-by-case basis.  Being aware of their existence can save you a fair bit of confusion.
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
−
*A: 你 吃 晚饭 了 吗？
+
<ul>
−
*B: <em>没</em> 吃。
+
<li class="x">他 以前 <strong>没</strong> 是 我的 老板。<span class="pinyin">Tā yǐqián <strong>méi</strong> shì wǒ de lǎobǎn.</span></li>
−
*A: 为什么？
+
<li class="o">他 以前 <em>不</em> 是 我的 老板。<span class="pinyin">Tā yǐqián <em>bù</em> shì wǒ de lǎobǎn.</span><span class="trans">He was not my boss before.</span></li>
−
*B: 因为 <em>不</em> 想 吃。
+
<li class="x">我 <strong>没</strong> 知道 他 要 来 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <strong>méi</strong> zhīdào tā yào lái.</span></li>
 +
<li class="o"> 我 <em>不</em> 知道 他 要 来。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>bù</em> zhīdào tā yào lái.</span><span class="trans">I didn't know he was coming.</span></li>
 +
<li class="x">他 小 时候 <strong>没</strong> 认识 她 。<span class="pinyin">Tā xiǎo shíhou <strong>méi</strong> rènshi tā.</span></li>
 +
<li class="o">他 小时候 <em>不</em> 认识 她。<span class="pinyin">Tā xiǎo shíhou <em>bù</em> rènshi tā.</span><span class="trans">He did not know her when he was young.</span></li>
 +
<li class="q">昨天 我 <strong>没</strong> 在 家。<span class="expl">Use of 没 with 在 is technically incorrect, but you sometimes hear it.</span><span class="pinyin">Zuótiān wǒ <strong>méi</strong> zài jiā.</span></li>
 +
<li class="o">昨天 我 <em>不</em> 在 家 。<span class="pinyin">Zuótiān wǒ <em>bù</em> zài jiā.</span><span class="trans">I was not home yesterday.</span></li>
 +
</ul>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
−
== See also  ==
+
Note that in non-standard Mandarin you might encounter exceptions to this rule.  It's still useful to know the rule!
 +
 
 +
== QUIZ TIME! ==
 +
 
 +
<h3 class="quiz">Ready to Check Your Mastery of 不 and 没?</h3>
 +
<div class="quiz">
 +
 
 +
If you're pretty clear on the explanations you've read so far and the examples make sense to you, you still need to put your knowledge to the test.
 +
 
 +
<div class="quiz-link">[https://quizzes.allsetlearning.com/q/bu-vs-mei/ Take the 不 / 没 Quiz!]</div>
 +
 
 +
</div>
  
 
== Sources and further reading ==
 
== Sources and further reading ==
 +
 +
=== Websites ===
 +
 +
* http://www.docin.com/p-20925643.html
 +
* http://wenku.baidu.com/view/e2e8eb2ce2bd960590c67703.html
 +
* ChinesePod Qing Wen: [https://chinesepod.com/lessons/when-to-use-“不”-bu-and-“没”-mei When To Use “不” bù and “没” méi?]
 +
 +
===Videos===
 +
 +
* Yoyo Chinese: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=340G2Sw4Z50&list=PL94A5E422FB99CDDD Negation word 不]
 +
* Yoyo Chinese: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMaE2w7C5qI&list=PL94A5E422FB99CDDD&index=12 Negation word 没]
  
 
=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
 +
{{Source|Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition|141-4}}
 +
{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|137-9}}
 +
{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)|87}}
 +
{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed)|102, 250-1}}
 +
{{Source|Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition|54-5}}
 +
{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3)|33-4}}
 +
{{Source|Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition|51}}
 +
{{Source|现代汉语八百词（增订本）|382}}
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{{Source|Practicing HSK Grammar (语法精讲精炼)|32}}
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{{Source|现代汉语八百词（增订本）|383}}
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|31}}
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (1st ed)|85-86}}
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{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed)|218}}
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{{Source|Reference:Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级)|156}}
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{{Source|40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册）|157-8}}
  
 
[[Category:grammar comparison]]
 
[[Category:grammar comparison]]
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{{Basic Grammar|不|A2|不 vs 没|我 今天 晚上 <em>不</em> 吃 饭。昨天 晚上 我 <em>没</em> 吃 饭。|grammar point|ASGRJ1BI}}
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{{HSK|HSK1}}{{2021-HSK|HSK1}}
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{{Used for|Negating}}
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{{Used for|Describing actions}}
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{{Used for|Denying and refusing}}
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{{Basic Grammar|不|A2|不 vs 没|我 今天 晚上 <em>不</em> 吃饭。昨天 晚上 我 <em>没</em> 吃饭。|grammar point|ASGRJ1BI}}
 
{{Rel char|没有}}
 
{{Rel char|没有}}
 
{{Rel char|没}}
 
{{Rel char|没}}
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{{Used for|Describing actions}}
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{{Similar|Standard negation with "bu"}} 
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{{Comparison}}
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{{Similar|Affirmative-negative question}}
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{{Similar|Tag questions with "bu"}}
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{{Similar|Negation of "you" with "mei"}} 
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{{Similar|Negation of past actions with "meiyou"}}
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{{Similar|Basic comparisons with "meiyou"}}
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{{Translation|not}}
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{{Comparison|Adverbs}}

Latest revision as of 02:55, 31 December 2021

Both 不 (bù) and 没 (méi) can be placed in front of a verb or adjective to negate its meaning. However, 不 (bù) and 没 (méi) are not usually interchangeable, so it's important to learn when you must use 不 (bù) as opposed to 没 (méi), and vice versa.

不 (bù) Negates in the Present and Future

不 (bù) is generally used to negate an action that you do not want to do or do not intend to do (in the future). So expressing things like "I don't want to go" or "I'm not going" would be uses of 不 (bù).

Structure

Subj. + 不 + Verb

Examples

Whether it's "don't wanna do it" or "not gonna do it," use 不 (bù):

  • 我 今天 晚上 不 喝酒。Wǒ jīntiān wǎnshang bù hējiǔ.Tonight I'm not going to drink.
  • 爸爸 不 回来 吃 晚饭。Bàba bù huílái chī wǎnfàn.Dad is not coming back to eat dinner.
  • 老板 明天 不 来 。Lǎobǎn míngtiān bù lái.The boss won't come tomorrow.
  • 我 知道 这 个 周末 不 下雨。Wǒ zhīdào zhège zhōumò bù xiàyǔ.I know it's not going to rain this weekend.
  • 你 女朋友 不 跟 你 一起 去 吗？Nǐ nǚpéngyou bù gēn nǐ yīqǐ qù ma? Is your girlfriend not going with you?

不 (bù) Negates Habitual Actions

不 (bù) can be used to negate habitual actions, to express what you just aren't in the habit of doing, such as eating meat, or watching TV, or drinking alcohol. This is simply done by placing 不 (bù) in front of the verb.

Structure

Subj. + 不 + Verb + Obj.

Examples

  • 我 不 吃 肉。Wǒ bù chī ròu.I don't eat meat.
  • 你们 都 不 喝酒 吗？Nǐmen dōu bù hējiǔ ma?Do you all not drink alcohol?
  • 他 不 喜欢 说话。Tā bù xǐhuan shuōhuà.He doesn't like to speak.
  • 你 不 用 手机 看书 吗？Nǐ bù yòng shǒujī kàn shū ma?Do you not use your phone to read books?
  • 你 晚上 不 洗澡 吗？Nǐ wǎnshang bù xǐzǎo ma? Don't you shower at night?

Please note that, while it is grammatically correct to use 没 (méi) in all the sentences above, 没 (méi) does not negate any habitual actions. The sentences above, if they contained 没 (méi) instead of 不 (bù), would express that the speaker didn't do the named activity (at one particular point in the past). So it would not be about habitual actions.

不 (bù) Is Normally Used with Adjectives

When it comes to a simple negation of an adjective (such as "not cold"), use 不 (bù).

Structure

不 + Adj.

Examples

  • 我们 不 饿。Wǒmen bù è.We're not hungry.
  • 你 不 胖。Nǐ bù pàng.You are not fat.
  • 我 家 不 远。Wǒ jiā bù yuǎn.My home is not far.
  • 今天 不 冷。Jīntiān bù lěng.Today it isn't cold.
  • 我 觉得 Starbucks 的 咖啡 不 好喝。Wǒ juéde Starbucks de kāfēi bù hǎohē.I think the coffee at Starbucks isn't good.

不 (bù) Is for Asking Questions

There are couple ways to use 不 (bù) to ask questions. One such way is through affirmative-negative questions. This is done by stating a verb and then immediately repeating that verb in a negative state (with 不 (bù)).

Structure

Subj. + Verb + 不 + Verb + Obj.

Examples

  • 你 是 不是 我 的 老师？Nǐ shì bu shì wǒ de lǎoshī? Are you my teacher or not?
  • 她 想 不 想 来？Tā xiǎng bu xiǎnglái? Does she want to come?
  • 你 爱 不 爱 我？Nǐ ài bu ài wǒ? Do you love me or not?
  • 你们 周末 上 不 上班？Nǐmen zhōumò shàng bu shàngbān? Do you all go to work on weekends?
  • 你 的 外国 朋友们 喜 不 喜欢 吃 中国菜？Nǐ de wàiguó péngyoumen xǐ bu xǐhuan chī Zhōngguó cài? Do your foreign friends like to eat Chinese food?

不 (bù) can also be used to form tag questions. Tag questions use the positive-negative question form, but are placed at the end of the sentence. Tag questions are used to seek approval or acceptance for a statement, very similar to the English "OK?" or "right?" You can't use 没 (méi) for this.

  • 我们 去 吃饭 ，好 没 好？ Wǒmen qù chīfàn, hǎo méi hǎo?
  • 我们 去 吃饭 ，好 不 好？ Wǒmen qù chīfàn, hǎo bu hǎo? Let's go eat, is that OK?
  • 你们 是 好 朋友 ，对 没 对？Nǐmen shì hǎo péngyou, duì méi duì?
  • 你们 是 好 朋友 ，对 不 对？Nǐmen shì hǎo péngyou, duì bu duì? You are good friends, right?

没 (méi) Negates Past Actions

没 (méi) and 没有 (méiyǒu) can both be used to negate actions that occurred in the past, or to say that something has not happened yet.

Structure

Subj. + 没(有) + Verb + Obj.

Examples

  • 他 没有 打 电话 给 我 。Tā méiyǒu dǎ diànhuà gěi wǒ.He did not give me a call.
  • 你 没 去 上班 吗 ？Nǐ méi qù shàngbān ma? You didn't go to work?
  • 我 昨天 没 喝酒。Wǒ zuótiān méi hējiǔ.I did not drink alcohol yesterday.
  • 妈妈 没有 做 晚饭。Māma méiyǒu zuò wǎnfàn.Mom did not cook dinner.
  • 他们 吃 完 饭 以后 没 付 钱。 Tāmen chī wán fàn yǐhòu méi fù qián.They didn't pay after they finished eating.
  • 我 昨天 不 喝酒。Wǒ zuótiān bù hējiǔ.I not drink wine yesterday.
  • 我 上个 周末 不 跟 他 见面。Wǒ shàng gè zhōumò bù gēn tā jiànmiàn.I not meet with him last weekend.
  • 上个月 你 不 去 北京 吗？ Shàng gè yuè nǐ bù qù Běijīng? You not go to Beijing last month?

There are a few things worth noting in these examples. For one, it is still grammatically correct to leave out the 有 (yǒu) in the sentences using 没有 (méiyǒu). Also, the sentences using 不 (bù) would be grammatically correct, if not for the time words telling us that it is definitely the past we're talking about.

Only 没 (méi) Negates 有 (yǒu)

没 (méi) can be used to negate the verb 有 (yǒu) ("to have") to mean "do not have." You can only use 没 (méi) to convey this meaning. It is grammatically incorrect to use 不 (bù) to negate 有 (yǒu).

Structure

Subj. + 没有 + Obj.

Examples

  • 我 不 有 钱。Wǒ bù yǒu qián.
  • 我 没有 钱。Wǒ méiyǒu qián.I don't have money.
  • 他 不 有 女朋友。Tā bù yǒu nǚpéngyou.
  • 他 没有 女朋友。Tā méiyǒu nǚpéngyou.He doesn't have a girlfriend.

There are times when you can leave out 有 (yǒu) entirely while still expressing 没有 (méiyǒu), (meaning "to not have" or "there is no"). One well-known example of this is 没办法 (méi bànfǎ) ("there is no way" [that's gonna happen]). Both 没 (méi) and 没有 (méiyǒu) are correct, however.

  • 我 没 办法。Wǒ méi bànfǎ.I don't have a way.
  • 我 没有 办法。Wǒ méiyǒu bànfǎ.I don't have a way.

(You can also use 没办法 (méi bànfǎ) to express other meanings.)

没 (méi) Is for Making Comparisons

没 (méi) or 没有 (méiyǒu) can be used to make simple comparisons meaning "not as... as...":

Structure

Noun 1 + 没有 + Noun 2 + Adj.

Examples

  • 你 不 有 我 高。Nǐ bù yǒu wǒ gāo.
  • 你 没有 我 高。Nǐ méiyǒu wǒ gāo.You are not as tall as me.
  • 我 的 手机 不 有 他 的 手机 贵。 Wǒ de shǒujī bù yǒu tā de shǒujī guì.
  • 我 的 手机 没有 他 的 手机 贵。Wǒ de shǒujī méiyǒu tā de shǒujī guì.My cell phone isn't as expensive as his.
  • 我们 都 不 有 老板 忙。 Wǒmen dōu bù yǒu lǎobǎn máng.
  • 我们 都 没有 老板 忙。 Wǒmen dōu méiyǒu lǎobǎn máng.We all are not as busy as the boss.
  • 上海 的 冬天 不 有 北京 的 冬天 冷。 Shànghǎi de dōngtiān bù yǒu Běijīng de dōngtiān lěng.
  • 上海 的 冬天 没有 北京 的 冬天 冷。 Shànghǎi de dōngtiān méiyǒu Běijīng de dōngtiān lěng.Shanghai winters are not as cold Beijing winters.

You can only use 没 (méi) or 没有 (méiyǒu) for this purpose, and not 不 (bù).

不 (bù) Is Used Almost Exclusively with Certain Verbs

Certain verbs just don't get negated by 没 (méi) or 没有 (méiyǒu) ever. These include the verbs 是 (shì) ("to be") and 在 (zài) ("to be (in a place)"), as well as some psychological verbs such as 知道 (zhīdào) ("to know") and 认识 (rènshi) ("to know (a person)"). For these verbs, it's best to just take them on a case-by-case basis. Being aware of their existence can save you a fair bit of confusion.

  • 他 以前 没 是 我的 老板。Tā yǐqián méi shì wǒ de lǎobǎn.
  • 他 以前 不 是 我的 老板。Tā yǐqián bù shì wǒ de lǎobǎn.He was not my boss before.
  • 我 没 知道 他 要 来 。 Wǒ méi zhīdào tā yào lái.
  • 我 不 知道 他 要 来。Wǒ bù zhīdào tā yào lái.I didn't know he was coming.
  • 他 小 时候 没 认识 她 。Tā xiǎo shíhou méi rènshi tā.
  • 他 小时候 不 认识 她。Tā xiǎo shíhou bù rènshi tā.He did not know her when he was young.
  • 昨天 我 没 在 家。Use of 没 with 在 is technically incorrect, but you sometimes hear it.Zuótiān wǒ méi zài jiā.
  • 昨天 我 不 在 家 。Zuótiān wǒ bù zài jiā.I was not home yesterday.

Note that in non-standard Mandarin you might encounter exceptions to this rule. It's still useful to know the rule!

QUIZ TIME!

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