Comparing "bu" and "mei"

都是否定副词，都可以用在动词前面，但是使用时间不一样。 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.

不

“不”一般是表达不想做的事情。 不 is generally used to express an action that you do not want to do.

Structure

Subject + 不 + V.

Examples

• 我 今天 晚上 不 吃 饭。
• 他 不 去 公园。

• 明天 我 不 在 家。
• 上周 我 不 和 我 的 朋友 在 一起。

没

“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 is used to describe actions in the past or illustrate that an action hasn’t happened yet.

Structure

Subject + 没（有）+ V.

Examples

• 昨天 晚上 我 没 吃 饭。
• 他 没有 去 公园。

• 明天 我 没 在 家。
• 上周 我 没 和 我 的 朋友 在 一起。

没: negation of 有

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

• 我 没有 钱。
• 我 不有 钱。

See the grammar page here: http://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Negation_of_%22you%22

There are times when you can leave out 有 entirely while still expressing 没有. The best example of this is 没办法.

• 我 没 办法。
• 我 没有 办法。

Both of these statements have the same meaning, but the use of 没 is slightly different.

See the grammar page here: http://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Inability_with_%22mei_banfa%22

没: making comparisons

没有 can be used to make simple comparisons.

• 我 的 钱 没有 他 的 钱 多。
• 你 没有 我 高兴。

See the grammar page here: http://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Basic_comparisons_with_%22meiyou%22

没: negation of past actions

没有 can be used to negate actions that occurred in the past.

• 他 没有 来 课。
• 他 没有 打 电话 给 我。

没有 is only used for past actions. Present actions are with negated with 不

See the grammar page here: http://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Negation_of_past_actions

Difference between 不 and 没

没有

You can use 没 to modify 有 to mean "do not have". You can only use 没 to convey this meaning. It is grammatically incorrect to use 不

• 我 没有 钱。
• 我 不有 钱。

Other examples

As stated before, 没 is used for actions that occurred in the past or for actions that have yet to occur. 不 cannot be used to express actions that happened in the past. It can, however, be used to express actions currently happening or will happen in the future. Understanding these differences is essential for choosing which word to use in which context.

• 他 没 给 我 他 的 手机号。

In this example, the speaker's use of 没 suggests that this event happened in the past. The context of time, that is very necessary in conveying the meaning of this sentence, can only be expressed through using 没.

• 我 不 吃 肉。

In this example, the speaker is explaining that he does not each meat. By using 不, the speaker has explained that he does not presently eat meat and also implies that he will not be eating meat in the future.

Dialog

• A: 你 吃 晚饭 了 吗？
• B: 没 吃。
• A: 为什么？
• B: 因为 不 想 吃。