Difference between revisions of "Standard negation with "bu""

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* 我们 学校 <em>不</em> <strong>大</strong>。<span class="trans">Our school is not big.</span>
 
* 我们 学校 <em>不</em> <strong>大</strong>。<span class="trans">Our school is not big.</span>
 
* 这里 的 咖啡 <em>不</em> <strong>好喝</strong>。<span class="trans">The coffee here is not good.</span>
 
* 这里 的 咖啡 <em>不</em> <strong>好喝</strong>。<span class="trans">The coffee here is not good.</span>
* 我 觉得 那 个 女 孩子 <em>不</em> <strong>漂亮</strong>。<span class="trans">I don't think that girl is pretty.</span>
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* 我 觉得 那 个 女 孩子 <em>不</em> <strong>漂亮</strong>。<span class="trans">I think that girl is not pretty.</span>
 
* 我 哥哥 <em>不</em> <strong>高</strong>,但是 很 帅。<span class="trans">My older brother is not tall, but he is very handsome.</span>
 
* 我 哥哥 <em>不</em> <strong>高</strong>,但是 很 帅。<span class="trans">My older brother is not tall, but he is very handsome.</span>
* 我 很 <em>不</em> <strong>高兴</strong>。<span class="trans">I am really not happy.</span>
+
* 我 很 <em>不</em> <strong>高兴</strong>。<span class="trans">I am not happy.</span>
 
* 这 个 人 <em>不</em> <strong>好</strong>。<span class="trans">This person is not good.</span>
 
* 这 个 人 <em>不</em> <strong>好</strong>。<span class="trans">This person is not good.</span>
* 吃 这 种 东西 <em>不</em> <strong>健康</strong>。<span class="trans">This food is not healthy to eat.</span>
+
* 吃 这 种 东西 <em>不</em> <strong>健康</strong>。<span class="trans">Eating this stuff is not healthy.</span>
  
 
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Revision as of 08:15, 25 February 2014

Use 不 (bù) to negate verbs in the present or future.

Negating Verbs

Structure

The standard way to negate verbs in Chinese is with 不. To negate a verb, simply place 不 before it:

Subject + 不 + Verb + Object

Examples

  • 德国人。I am not German.
  • 喜欢 你。He does not like you.
  • 酒。She doesn't drink beer.
  • 好 学生。I am not a good student.
  • 想 工作I don't want to work.
  • 很多 年轻 人 运动Many young people don't exercise.
  • 今天 我 去 上课Today I am not going to class.
  • 喜欢 这 个 派对。I don't like this party.
  • 这么 贵,我 How expensive! I'm not buying it.
  • 为什么 你 喜欢 喝 咖啡?Why don't you like to drink coffee?

Almost all verbs can be negated with 不 (unless you're talking about the past). The only verb that can never be negated with 不 is .

  • 不有 时间。
  • 没有 时间。I don't have time.

Negating Adjectives

Surprise! The structure is basically the same.

Structure

Subject + 不 + Adjective

Examples

  • 饿I'm not hungry.
  • He is not hot.
  • 这 个 This is not expensive.
  • 我们 学校 Our school is not big.
  • 这里 的 咖啡 好喝The coffee here is not good.
  • 我 觉得 那 个 女 孩子 漂亮I think that girl is not pretty.
  • 我 哥哥 ,但是 很 帅。My older brother is not tall, but he is very handsome.
  • 我 很 高兴I am not happy.
  • 这 个 人 This person is not good.
  • 吃 这 种 东西 健康Eating this stuff is not healthy.

See also

Sources and Further Reading

Books

Videos