Expressing "not very" with "bu tai"
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Level
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Similar to
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Used for
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Keywords
You may be familiar with using 太 (tài) to express "too." For example, when something is "too expensive" or "too hot." 不太 (bù tài) is a similar pattern for 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
Subj. + 不太 + Adj.
Note: This pattern can also be used with non-adjectives. See below for more info.
Examples
- 我 家 不 太 大 。 My house is not too big.
- 那 个 地方 不 太 远 。 That place is not very far away.
- 老板 今天 不 太 高兴 。 The boss is not very happy today.
- 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.
“不太” with verbs
Structure
This pattern can be used with some psychological verbs (e.g. 喜欢 (xǐhuan), 想 (xiǎng), 明白 (míngbai)), as in the next two examples. These verbs are relatively limited.
Subj. + 不太 + Verb
Examples
- 我 不 太 懂 。 I don't really understand.
- 她 不 太 希望 我们 走 。 She doesn't really want us to go.
- 我 不 太 相信 他 知道 。 I'm not really convinced he knows.
- 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 认识 我 。 She doesn't really know 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 明白 你 的 意思 。 I don't really understand what you mean.
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 200) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (pp. 180-181) →buy
- A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法) (pp. 109) →buy
