Expressing "not very" with "bu tai"

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).

“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.
• 她 不 太 理解 我。She doesn't really understand me.
• 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

• Expressing "excessively" with tai

Sources and further reading

Books

• Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 200) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (pp. 180-1)　→buy