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

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不 (bù) is generally used to negate an action that you do not want to do or do not intend to do (in the future). So expressing things like "I don't want to go" or "I'm not going" would be uses of 不 (bù).
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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="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 我 <em>不</em> <strong></strong> 德国人。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <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>
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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>
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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>
 
* 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>
 
* 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>
*我们 都 <em>不</em> <strong>喝</strong> 酒。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen dōu <em>bù</em> <strong>hē </strong> jiǔ.</span><span class="trans">We all don't drink alcohol.</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>
* 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 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>
 
* 今天 你 <em>不</em> <strong>去 上课</strong> 吗?<span class="pinyin">Jīntiān nǐ <em>bù</em> <strong>qù shàngkè </strong> ma?</span><span class="trans">Today you are not going to class?</span>
 
* 太 贵 了,我 <em>不</em> <strong>买</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Tài guì le, wǒ <em>bù</em> <strong>mǎi </strong>.</span><span class="trans">Too 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>xǐhuan hē </strong> kāfēi?</span><span class="trans">Why don't you like to drink coffee?</span>
 
* 很多 年轻 人 都 <em>不</em> 喜欢 <strong>运动</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Hěnduō niánqīng rén dōu <em>bù</em> xǐhuan <strong>yùndòng </strong>.</span><span class="trans">Many young people don't like exercising.</span>
 
* 我 和 我 的 朋友 都 <em>不</em> <strong>喜欢</strong> 这 个 派对。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ hé wǒ de péngyou dōu <em>bù</em> <strong>xǐhuan </strong> zhè ge pàiduì.</span><span class="trans">Neither my friend nor I like this party.</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 ==
  
Turns out that 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
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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 ge <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 nàge 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 ge 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 ===
 +
 
 +
* 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