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

Latest revision as of 09:23, 20 April 2021

Level

A1 / HSK1
Level

A1
Level

HSK1
Similar to
- Connecting nouns with "shi" (A1)
- Negation of "you" with "mei" (A1)
- Negation of past actions with "meiyou" (A1)
- Comparing "bu" and "mei" (A2)
Similar to
- Comparing "bu" and "mei" (HSK1)
- Connecting nouns with "shi" (HSK1)
- Negation of "you" with "mei" (HSK1)
- Negation of past actions with "meiyou" (HSK1)
Used for

Negating, Describing actions, Denying and refusing, Referring to habitual actions, Referring to the present, Referring to the future
Keywords

不

不 (bù) is generally used to negate a verb in the present or future, or to talk about what you do not do, as a habit. So expressing things like "I don't want to go" or "I'm not going" or "I don't eat meat" would be typical uses of 不 (bù).

Negating Verbs

Structure

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

Subj. + 不 + Verb + Obj.

Examples

他们不是坏孩子。Tāmen bù shì huài háizi.They are not bad kids.
我们不喝酒。Wǒmen bù hējiǔ.We don't drink alcohol.
我今天不 想工作。Wǒ jīntiān bù xiǎng gōngzuò.I don't want to work today.
你不喜欢我吗？ Nǐ bù xǐhuan wǒ ma?Do you not like me?
为什么你不 喜欢喝 咖啡？Wèishénme nǐ bù xǐhuan hē kāfēi?Why don't you like to drink coffee?

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

我不有时间。Wǒ bù yǒu shíjiān.
我没有时间。Wǒ méiyǒu shíjiān.I don't have time.

Negating Adjectives

As it turns out, the structure with an adjective is basically the same as the one with a verb.

Structure

Subj. + 不 + Adj.

Examples

我不饿。Wǒ bù è.I'm not hungry.
这个不贵。Zhège bù guì.This is not expensive.
公司不大。Gōngsī bù dà.The company is not big.
老板今天很不高兴。Lǎobǎn jīntiān hěn bù gāoxìng .The boss is very unhappy today.
我哥哥不高，但是很帅。Wǒ gēge bù gāo , dànshì hěn shuài.My older brother is not tall, but he is very handsome.

Sources and Further Reading

Books

Websites

FluentU: 5 Totally Uncomplicated Tips to Master Basic Chinese Grammar

Videos

Yoyo Chinese: Negation word 不

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Grammar Box}}
-Use 不 (bù) to negate verbs in the present or future.\r\n== Negating Verbs ==\r\n=== Structure ===\r\nThe standard way to negate verbs in Chinese is with 不. To negate a verb, simply place 不 before it:\r\n<div class="jiegou">\r\nSubject + 不 + Verb + Object\r\n</div>\r\n=== Examples ===\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n* 我 <em>不</em> <strong>是</strong> 德国人。<span class="trans">I am not a German.</span>
-* 他 <em>不</em> <strong>喜欢</strong> 你。<span class="trans">He does not like you.</span>
+不 (bù) is generally used to negate a [[verb]] in the present or future, or to talk about what you do not do, as a habit. So expressing things like "I don't want to go" or "I'm not going" or "I don't eat meat" would be typical uses of 不 (bù).
-* 她 <em>不</em> <strong>喝</strong> 酒。<span class="trans">She doesn't drink beer.</span>
-* 我 <em>不</em> <strong>是</strong> 好 学生。<span class="trans">I am not a good student.</span>
+== Negating Verbs ==
-* 我 <em>不</em> <strong>想 工作</strong>。<span class="trans">I don't want to work.</span>
-* 很多 年轻 人 <em>不</em> <strong>运动</strong>。<span class="trans">Many young people don't work.</span>
+=== Structure ===
-* 今天 我 <em>不</em> <strong>去 上课</strong>。<span class="trans">Today I didn't go to class.</span>
-* 我 <em>不</em> <strong>喜欢</strong> 这 个 派对。<span class="trans">I don't like that party.</span>
+The standard way to negate verbs in Chinese is with 不 (bù). To negate a verb, simply place 不 (bù) before it:
-* 这么 贵，我 <em>不</em> <strong>买</strong>。<span class="trans">That expensive I don't want to buy.</span>
-* 为什么 你 <em>不</em> <strong>喜欢 喝</strong> 咖啡？<span class="trans">Why don't you like to drink coffee?</span>\r\n</div>\r\nAlmost all verbs can be negated with 不 ([[Negation of past actions|unless you're talking about the past]]). The only verb that can never be negated with 不 is [[Negation of "you"|有]].\r\n<div class="liju">
+<div class="jiegou">
+Subj. + 不 + Verb + Obj.
+</div>
+=== Examples ===
+<div class="liju">
+* 他们 <em>不</em> <strong>是</strong> 坏 孩子。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen <em>bù</em> <strong>shì </strong> huài háizi.</span><span class="trans">They are not bad kids.</span>
+*我们 <em>不</em> <strong>喝</strong> 酒。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>bù</em> <strong>hē</strong>jiǔ.</span><span class="trans">We don't drink alcohol.</span>
+* 我 今天 <em>不</em> <strong>想 工作</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ jīntiān <em>bù</em> <strong>xiǎng gōngzuò</strong>.</span><span class="trans">I don't want to work today.</span>
+* 你 <em>不</em> <strong>喜欢</strong> 我 吗？<span class="pinyin"> Nǐ <em>bù</em> <strong>xǐhuan </strong> wǒ ma?</span><span class="trans">Do you not like me?</span>
+* 为什么 你 <em>不</em> <strong>喜欢 喝</strong> 咖啡？<span class="pinyin">Wèishénme nǐ <em>bù</em> <strong>xǐhuan hē </strong> kāfēi?</span><span class="trans">Why don't you like to drink coffee?</span>
+</div>
+Almost all verbs can be negated with 不 (bù) ([[Negation of past actions with "meiyou"|unless you're talking about the past]]). The only verb that can never be negated with 不 (bù) is [[Negation of "you" with "mei"|有 (yǒu)]].
+<div class="liju">
 <ul>
-<li class="x">我 <em>不有</em> 时间。</li>
+<li class="x">我 <em>不</em><strong>有</strong>时间。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>bù </em><strong>yǒu</strong> shíjiān.</span></li>
-<li class="o">我 <em>没有</em> 时间。</li>
+<li class="o">我 <em>没</em><strong>有</strong>时间。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>méi</em><strong>yǒu</strong> shíjiān.</span><span class="trans">I don't have time.</span></li>
 </ul>
-</div>\r\n== Negating Adjectives ==\r\nSurprise!  The structure is basically the same.\r\n=== Structure ===\r\n<div class="jiegou">\r\nSubject + 不 + Adjective\r\n</div>\r\n=== Examples ===\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n* 我 <em>不</em> <strong>饿</strong>。<span class="trans">I'm not hungry.</span>
+</div>
-* 他 <em>不</em> <strong>热</strong>。<span class="trans">He is not hot.</span>
-* 这 个 <em>不</em> <strong>贵</strong>。<span class="trans">This is not expensive.</span>
+== Negating Adjectives ==
-* 我们 学校 <em>不</em> <strong>大</strong>。<span class="trans"></span>
-* 这里 的 咖啡 <em>不</em> <strong>好喝</strong>。<span class="trans"></span>
+As it turns out, the structure with an [[adjective]] is basically the same as the one with a verb.
-* 我 觉得 那 个 女 孩子 <em>不</em> <strong>漂亮</strong>。<span class="trans"></span>
-* 我 哥哥 <em>不</em> <strong>高</strong>，但是 很 帅。<span class="trans"></span>
+=== Structure ===
-* 我 很 <em>不</em> <strong>高兴</strong>。<span class="trans"></span>
-* 这 个 人 <em>不</em> <strong>好</strong>。<span class="trans"></span>
+<div class="jiegou">
-* 吃 这 种 东西 <em>不</em> <strong>健康</strong>。<span class="trans"></span>\r\n</div>\r\n==See also==
-*[[Negation of "you"]]
+Subj. + 不 + Adj.
-*[[Negation of past actions]]\r\n== Sources and Further Reading ==\r\n=== Books ===\r\n* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 31) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]\r\n===Videos===\r\n* Yoyo Chinese: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=340G2Sw4Z50&list=PL94A5E422FB99CDDD Negation word 不]\r\n[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
+</div>
+=== Examples ===
+<div class="liju">
+* 我 <em>不</em> <strong>饿</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>bù</em> <strong>è</strong>.</span><span class="trans">I'm not hungry.</span>
+* 这 个 <em>不</em> <strong>贵</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Zhège <em>bù</em> <strong>guì</strong>.</span><span class="trans">This is not expensive.</span>
+* 公司 <em>不</em> <strong>大</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Gōngsī <em>bù</em> <strong>dà</strong>.</span><span class="trans">The company is not big.</span>
+* 老板 今天 很 <em>不</em> <strong>高兴</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn jīntiān hěn <em>bù</em> <strong>gāoxìng </strong>.</span><span class="trans">The boss is very unhappy today.</span>
+* 我 哥哥 <em>不</em> <strong>高</strong>，但是 很 帅。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ gēge <em>bù</em> <strong>gāo </strong>, dànshì hěn shuài.</span><span class="trans">My older brother is not tall, but he is very handsome.</span>
+</div>
+==See also==
+*[[Negation of "you" with "mei"]]
+*[[Negation of past actions with "meiyou"]]
+== Sources and Further Reading ==
+=== Books ===
+{{Source|HSK Standard Course 1|16}}
+{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|31}}
+{{Source|Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition|45}}
+{{Source|Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide|146-150}}
+=== Websites ===
+* FluentU: [https://www.fluentu.com/blog/chinese/2018/10/24/basic-chinese-grammar/ 5 Totally Uncomplicated Tips to Master Basic Chinese Grammar]
+===Videos===
+* Yoyo Chinese: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=340G2Sw4Z50&list=PL94A5E422FB99CDDD Negation word 不]
+[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
+{{HSK|HSK1}}{{2021-HSK|HSK1}}
 [[Category:Verbs]]
 [[Category:Adverbs]]
+{{Used for|Negating}}
+{{Used for|Describing actions}}
 {{Used for|Denying and refusing}}
 {{Used for|Referring to the present}}
 {{Used for|Referring to the future}}
 {{Used for|Referring to habitual actions}}
-{{Basic Grammar|不|A1|不 + V / 不 + Adj|他 <em>不</em> 喜欢 你。|grammar point|ASGIPYFV}}
+{{Basic Grammar|不|A1|不 + Verb / Adj.|他们 <em>不</em> 是 坏 孩子。|grammar point|ASGIPYFV}}
-{{Similar|Negation of "you"}}
+{{Similar|Negation of "you" with "mei"}}
-{{Similar|Negation of past actions}}
+{{Similar|Negation of past actions with "meiyou"}}
 {{Similar|Connecting nouns with "shi"}}
 {{Similar|Basic sentence order}}
 {{Similar|Comparing "bu" and "mei"}}
-{{POS|Verbs}}
+{{POS|Adverbs}}
-{{Subprop|Verb phrases}}
 {{Translation|not}}

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

Latest revision as of 09:23, 20 April 2021

Contents

Negating Verbs

Structure

Examples

Negating Adjectives

Structure

Examples

See also

Sources and Further Reading

Books

Websites

Videos