Difference between revisions of "Expressing "not very" with "bu tai""
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You may be familiar with using [[Expressing "excessively" with tai|太 (tài) to express "too"]] in the sense of "too expensive." There's a similar pattern in the negative, which just means "not very" or "not so" (literally "not too"). Note that this pattern does not normally use 了 (le). | You may be familiar with using [[Expressing "excessively" with tai|太 (tài) to express "too"]] in the sense of "too expensive." There's a similar pattern in the negative, which just means "not very" or "not so" (literally "not too"). Note that this pattern does not normally use 了 (le). | ||
Revision as of 05:15, 26 November 2013
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You may be familiar with using 太 (tài) to express "too" in the sense of "too expensive." There's a similar pattern in the negative, which just means "not very" or "not so" (literally "not too"). Note that this pattern does not normally use 了 (le).
Contents
“不太” with adjectives
Structure
Subject + 不太 + Adjective
Note: This pattern can also be used with non-adjectives. See below for more info.
Examples with adjectives
- 他 不 太 高兴。He is not too happy.
- 她 不 太 漂亮。She is not too pretty.
- 老师 不 太 友好。The teacher is not too friendly.
- 北京 不 太 舒服。Beijing is not too comfortable.
- 这 个 店 的 衣服 不 太 贵。The clothes in this shop are not too expensive.
- 我 觉得 他 不 太 聪明。I think he is not too clever.
- 这 个 房间 不 太 大。This apartment is not too big.
- 那 个 地方 不 太 远。That place is not very far away.
- 这 个 苹果 不 太 好吃。This apple is not very tasty.
- 现在 不 太 热。Today it is not too hot.
“不太” with verbs
Structure
This pattern can be used with some psychological verbs (e.g. 喜欢, 想，明白), as in the next two examples. These verbs are relatively limited. The examples below have some frequently used verbs. Of course “不太” can also be used with optative verbs (verbs that express a desire or wish in the subjunctive tense, e.g. 愿意，希望，会), however, this usage is used for the speculation of the possibility that something will happen.
Subject + 不太 + Verb
Examples with verbs
- 我 不 太 喜欢 我 的 工作。I don't really like my job.
- 他 不 太 想 去 。He doesn't really want to go.
- 我 不 太 想 我 的 家人。I don't really miss my family.
- 我 不 太 理解 你 的 做法。I don't really understand your method.
- 女人 不 太 关心 政治。Women are not too concerned about politics.
- 我觉得你 不 太 了解 我们 公司。I think that you don't really understand our company.
- 我 不 太 相信 他 已经 结婚 了。I am not too convinced that he is already married.
- 我 不 太 明白 你 的 意思。I don't really understand your meaning.
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 200) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (pp. 180-1) →buy
