Difference between revisions of "Standard negation with "bu""
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| − | The standard way to negate verbs in Chinese is with 不. To negate a verb, simply place 不 before it: | + | {{Grammar Box}} |
| + | |||
| + | 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: | ||
<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
| − | + | Subj. + 不 + Verb + Obj. | |
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | + | === Examples === | |
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * 我 <em>不</em> | + | * 他们 <em>不</em> <strong>是</strong> 坏 孩子。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen <em>bù</em> <strong>shì </strong> huài háizi.</span><span class="trans">They are not bad kids.</span> |
| − | * | + | *我们 <em>不</em> <strong>喝</strong> 酒。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>bù</em> <strong>hē</strong>jiǔ.</span><span class="trans">We don't drink alcohol.</span> |
| − | * | + | * 我 今天 <em>不</em> <strong>想 工作</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ jīntiān <em>bù</em> <strong>xiǎng gōngzuò</strong>.</span><span class="trans">I don't want to work today.</span> |
| + | * 你 <em>不</em> <strong>喜欢</strong> 我 吗？<span class="pinyin"> Nǐ <em>bù</em> <strong>xǐhuan </strong> wǒ ma?</span><span class="trans">Do you not like me?</span> | ||
| + | * 为什么 你 <em>不</em> <strong>喜欢 喝</strong> 咖啡？<span class="pinyin">Wèishénme nǐ <em>bù</em> <strong>xǐhuan hē </strong> kāfēi?</span><span class="trans">Why don't you like to drink coffee?</span> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | Almost all verbs can be negated with 不. The only verb that can never be negated with 不 is 有. | + | Almost all verbs can be negated with 不 (bù) ([[Negation of past actions with "meiyou"|unless you're talking about the past]]). The only verb that can never be negated with 不 (bù) is [[Negation of "you" with "mei"|有 (yǒu)]]. |
| + | |||
| + | <div class="liju"> | ||
| + | <ul> | ||
| + | <li class="x">我 <em>不</em><strong>有</strong>时间。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>bù </em><strong>yǒu</strong> shíjiān.</span></li> | ||
| + | <li class="o">我 <em>没</em><strong>有</strong>时间。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>méi</em><strong>yǒu</strong> shíjiān.</span><span class="trans">I don't have time.</span></li> | ||
| + | </ul> | ||
| + | </div> | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Negating Adjectives == | ||
| + | |||
| + | As it turns out, the structure with an [[adjective]] is basically the same as the one with a verb. | ||
| − | + | === Structure === | |
<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
| − | + | Subj. + 不 + Adj. | |
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | + | === Examples === | |
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * 我 <em>不</em> <strong>饿</strong>。 | + | * 我 <em>不</em> <strong>饿</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>bù</em> <strong>è</strong>.</span><span class="trans">I'm not hungry.</span> |
| − | * | + | * 这 个 <em>不</em> <strong>贵</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Zhège <em>bù</em> <strong>guì</strong>.</span><span class="trans">This is not expensive.</span> |
| − | * | + | * 公司 <em>不</em> <strong>大</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Gōngsī <em>bù</em> <strong>dà</strong>.</span><span class="trans">The company is not big.</span> |
| + | * 老板 今天 很 <em>不</em> <strong>高兴</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn jīntiān hěn <em>bù</em> <strong>gāoxìng </strong>.</span><span class="trans">The boss is very unhappy today.</span> | ||
| + | * 我 哥哥 <em>不</em> <strong>高</strong>，但是 很 帅。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ gēge <em>bù</em> <strong>gāo </strong>, dànshì hěn shuài.</span><span class="trans">My older brother is not tall, but he is very handsome.</span> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==See also== | ||
| + | *[[Negation of "you" with "mei"]] | ||
| + | *[[Negation of past actions with "meiyou"]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Sources and Further Reading == | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Books === | ||
| + | |||
| + | {{Source|HSK Standard Course 1|16}} | ||
| + | {{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|31}} | ||
| + | {{Source|Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition|45}} | ||
| + | {{Source|Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide|146-150}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Websites === | ||
| + | |||
| + | * FluentU: [https://www.fluentu.com/blog/chinese/2018/10/24/basic-chinese-grammar/ 5 Totally Uncomplicated Tips to Master Basic Chinese Grammar] | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Videos=== | ||
| + | |||
| + | * Yoyo Chinese: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=340G2Sw4Z50&list=PL94A5E422FB99CDDD Negation word 不] | ||
| + | |||
[[Category:A1 grammar points]] | [[Category:A1 grammar points]] | ||
| + | {{HSK|HSK1}}{{2021-HSK|HSK1}} | ||
[[Category:Verbs]] | [[Category:Verbs]] | ||
[[Category:Adverbs]] | [[Category:Adverbs]] | ||
| + | {{Used for|Negating}} | ||
| + | {{Used for|Describing actions}} | ||
| + | {{Used for|Denying and refusing}} | ||
| + | {{Used for|Referring to the present}} | ||
| + | {{Used for|Referring to the future}} | ||
| + | {{Used for|Referring to habitual actions}} | ||
| + | {{Basic Grammar|不|A1|不 + Verb / Adj.|他们 <em>不</em> 是 坏 孩子。|grammar point|ASGIPYFV}} | ||
| + | {{Similar|Negation of "you" with "mei"}} | ||
| + | {{Similar|Negation of past actions with "meiyou"}} | ||
| + | {{Similar|Connecting nouns with "shi"}} | ||
| + | {{Similar|Basic sentence order}} | ||
| + | {{Similar|Comparing "bu" and "mei"}} | ||
| + | {{POS|Adverbs}} | ||
| + | {{Translation|not}} | ||
Latest revision as of 09:23, 20 April 2021
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Keywords
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).
Contents
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。They are not bad kids.
- 我们 不 喝 酒。We don't drink alcohol.
- 我 今天 不 想 工作。I don't want to work today.
- 你 不 喜欢 我 吗？Do you not like me?
- 为什么 你 不 喜欢 喝 咖啡？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。
- 我 没有时间。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。I'm not hungry.
- 这 个 不 贵。This is not expensive.
- 公司 不 大。The company is not big.
- 老板 今天 很 不 高兴。The boss is very unhappy today.
- 我 哥哥 不 高，但是 很 帅。My older brother is not tall, but he is very handsome.
See also
Sources and Further Reading
Books
- HSK Standard Course 1 (pp. 16) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 31) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 45) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 146-150) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
Websites
Videos
- Yoyo Chinese: Negation word 不
