Standard negation with "bu"

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Use 不 (bù) to negate verbs in the present or future.

Negating Verbs

Structure

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

Subject + 不 + Verb + Object

Examples

  • 德国人。I am not German.
  • 喜欢 你。He does not like you.
  • 酒。She doesn't drink beer.
  • 好 学生。I am not a good student.
  • 想 工作I don't want to work.
  • 很多 年轻 人 运动Many young people don't exercise.
  • 今天 我 去 上课Today I am not going to class.
  • 喜欢 这 个 派对。I don't like this party.
  • 这么 贵,我 How expensive! I'm not buying it.
  • 为什么 你 喜欢 喝 咖啡?Why don't you like to drink coffee?

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

  • 不有 时间。
  • 没有 时间。I don't have time.

Negating Adjectives

Surprise! The structure is basically the same.

Structure

Subject + 不 + Adjective

Examples

  • 饿I'm not hungry.
  • He is not hot.
  • 这 个 This is not expensive.
  • 我们 学校 Our school is not big.
  • 这里 的 咖啡 好喝The coffee here is not good.
  • 我 觉得 那 个 女 孩子 漂亮I think that girl is not pretty.
  • 我 哥哥 ,但是 很 帅。My older brother is not tall, but he is very handsome.
  • 我 很 高兴I am not happy.
  • 这 个 人 This person is not good.
  • 吃 这 种 东西 健康Eating this stuff is not healthy.

See also

Sources and Further Reading

Books

Videos