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

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{{Grammar Box}}  
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{{Grammar Box}}
Use 不 (bù) to negate verbs in the present or future.
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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 ==
 
== Negating Verbs ==
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<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
  
Subject + 不 + Verb + Object
+
Subj. + 不 + Verb + Obj.
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* <em>不</em> <strong>是</strong> 德国人。<span class="pinyin"><em>bù </em> <strong>shì </strong> Déguó rén.</span><span class="trans">I am not German.</span>
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* 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>
* 他 <em>不</em> <strong>喜欢</strong> 你。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>bù </em> <strong>xǐhuān </strong> nǐ.</span><span class="trans">He does not like you.</span>
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*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>
* <em>不</em> <strong>喝</strong> 酒。<span class="pinyin"><em>bù </em> <strong>hē </strong> jiǔ.</span><span class="trans">She doesn't drink beer.</span>
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* 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>
* 我 <em>不</em> <strong>是</strong> 好 学生。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>bù </em> <strong>shì </strong> hǎo xuéshēng.</span><span class="trans">I am not a good student.</span>
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* <em>不</em> <strong>喜欢</strong> 我 吗?<span class="pinyin"> <em>bù</em> <strong>xǐhuan </strong> wǒ ma?</span><span class="trans">Do you not like me?</span>
* 我 <em>不</em> <strong>想 工作</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>bù </em> <strong>xiǎng gōngzuò </strong>.</span><span class="trans">I don't want to work.</span>
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* 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>
* 很多 年轻 人 <em>不</em> <strong>运动</strong><span class="pinyin">Hěnduō niánqīng rén <em>bù </em> <strong>yùndòng </strong>.</span><span class="trans">Many young people don't exercise.</span>
 
* 今天 我 <em>不</em> <strong>去 上课</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Jīntiān <em>bù </em> <strong>qù shàngkè </strong>.</span><span class="trans">Today I am not going to class.</span>
 
* 我 <em>不</em> <strong>喜欢</strong> 这 个 派对。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>bù </em> <strong>xǐhuān </strong> zhè gè pàiduì.</span><span class="trans">I don't like this party.</span>
 
* 这么 贵,我 <em>不</em> <strong>买</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Zhème guì, wǒ <em>bù </em> <strong>mǎi </strong>.</span><span class="trans">How expensive! I'm not buying it.</span>
 
* 为什么 你 <em>不</em> <strong>喜欢 喝</strong> 咖啡?<span class="pinyin">Wèishéme nǐ <em>bù </em> <strong>xǐhuān hē </strong> kāfēi?</span><span class="trans">Why don't you like to drink coffee?</span>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
Almost all verbs can be negated with 不 (bù) ([[Negation of past actions|unless you're talking about the past]]). The only verb that can never be negated with 不 (bù) is [[Negation of "you"|有 (yǒu)]].
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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">
 
<div class="liju">
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
<li class="x">我 <em>不有</em> 时间。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>bù yǒu </em> shíjiān.</span></li>
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<li class="x">我 <em></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。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>méiyǒu </em> shíjiān.</span><span class="trans">I don't have time.</span>
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<li class="o">我 <em></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>
 
</ul>
 
</div>
 
</div>
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== Negating Adjectives ==
 
== Negating Adjectives ==
  
Surprise!  The structure is basically the same.
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As it turns out, the structure with an [[adjective]] is basically the same as the one with a verb.
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
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<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
  
Subject + 不 + Adjective
+
Subj. + 不 + Adj.
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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<div class="liju">
 
<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>
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* 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>
* 他 <em>不</em> <strong>热</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>bù </em> <strong>rè </strong>.</span><span class="trans">He is not hot.</span>
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* 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>
* 这 个 <em>不</em> <strong>贵</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Zhè gè <em>bù </em> <strong>guì </strong>.</span><span class="trans">This is not expensive.</span>
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* 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>
* 我们 学校 <em>不</em> <strong>大</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen xuéxiào <em>bù </em> <strong>dà </strong>.</span><span class="trans">Our school is not big.</span>
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* 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>
* 这里 的 咖啡 <em>不</em> <strong>好喝</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ de kāfēi <em>bù </em> <strong>hǎo hē </strong>.</span><span class="trans">The coffee here is not good.</span>
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* 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>
* 我 觉得 那 个 女 孩子 <em>不</em> <strong>漂亮</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ juédé nàgè nǚ háizi <em>bù </em> <strong>piàoliang </strong>.</span><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="pinyin">Wǒ gēgē <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>
 
* 我 很 <em>不</em> <strong>高兴</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ hěn <em>bù </em> <strong>gāoxìng </strong>.</span><span class="trans">I am not happy.</span>
 
* 这 个 人 <em>不</em> <strong>好</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Zhè gè rén <em>bù </em> <strong>hǎo </strong>.</span><span class="trans">This person is not good.</span>
 
* 吃 这 种 东西 <em>不</em> <strong>健康</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Chī zhè zhǒng dōngxī <em>bù </em> <strong>jiànkāng </strong>.</span><span class="trans">Eating this stuff is not healthy.</span>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
*[[Negation of "you"]]
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*[[Negation of "you" with "mei"]]
*[[Negation of past actions]]
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*[[Negation of past actions with "meiyou"]]
  
 
== Sources and Further Reading ==
 
== Sources and Further Reading ==
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (p. 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]
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 1|16}}
* [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (p. 45) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615 →buy]
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|31}}
* [[Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide]] (pp. 146-150) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 →buy]
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{{Source|Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition|45}}
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{{Source|Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide|146-150}}
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=== Websites ===
 +
 
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* FluentU: [https://www.fluentu.com/blog/chinese/2018/10/24/basic-chinese-grammar/ 5 Totally Uncomplicated Tips to Master Basic Chinese Grammar]
  
 
===Videos===
 
===Videos===
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[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
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{{HSK|HSK1}}{{2021-HSK|HSK1}}
 
[[Category:Verbs]]
 
[[Category:Verbs]]
 
[[Category:Adverbs]]
 
[[Category:Adverbs]]
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{{Used for|Negating}}
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{{Used for|Describing actions}}
 
{{Used for|Denying and refusing}}
 
{{Used for|Denying and refusing}}
 
{{Used for|Referring to the present}}
 
{{Used for|Referring to the present}}
 
{{Used for|Referring to the future}}
 
{{Used for|Referring to the future}}
 
{{Used for|Referring to habitual actions}}
 
{{Used for|Referring to habitual actions}}
{{Basic Grammar|不|A1|不 + V / 不 + Adj|<em>不</em> 喜欢 你。|grammar point|ASGIPYFV}}
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{{Basic Grammar|不|A1|不 + Verb / Adj.|他们 <em>不</em> 是 坏 孩子。|grammar point|ASGIPYFV}}
{{Similar|Negation of "you"}}   
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{{Similar|Negation of "you" with "mei"}}   
{{Similar|Negation of past actions}}
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{{Similar|Negation of past actions with "meiyou"}}
 
{{Similar|Connecting nouns with "shi"}}     
 
{{Similar|Connecting nouns with "shi"}}     
 
{{Similar|Basic sentence order}}  
 
{{Similar|Basic sentence order}}  
 
{{Similar|Comparing "bu" and "mei"}}       
 
{{Similar|Comparing "bu" and "mei"}}       
{{POS|Verbs}}
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{{POS|Adverbs}}
{{Subprop|Verb phrases}}
 
 
{{Translation|not}}
 
{{Translation|not}}

Latest revision as of 09:23, 20 April 2021

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 坏 孩子。Tāmen shì huài háizi.They are not bad kids.
  • 我们 酒。Wǒmen jiǔ.We don't drink alcohol.
  • 我 今天 想 工作Wǒ jīntiān xiǎng gōngzuò.I don't want to work today.
  • 喜欢 我 吗? xǐhuan wǒ ma?Do you not like me?
  • 为什么 你 喜欢 喝 咖啡?Wèishénme nǐ 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).

  • 时间。yǒu shíjiān.
  • 时间。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

  • 饿 è.I'm not hungry.
  • 这 个 Zhège guì.This is not expensive.
  • 公司 Gōngsī .The company is not big.
  • 老板 今天 很 高兴Lǎobǎn jīntiān hěn gāoxìng .The boss is very unhappy today.
  • 我 哥哥 ,但是 很 帅。Wǒ gēge gāo , dànshì hěn shuài.My older brother is not tall, but he is very handsome.

See also

Sources and Further Reading

Books

Websites

Videos