Standard negation with "bu"

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).

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 都 酒。Wǒmen dōu jiǔ.We all 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?Wèishéme 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).

  • 不有 时间。bù yǒu shíjiān.
  • 没有 时间。méiyǒu shíjiān.I don't have time.

Negating Adjectives

Turns out that the structure is basically the same.

Structure

Subj.+ 不 + Adj.

Examples

  • 饿 è.I'm not hungry.
  • 这 个 Zhè ge guì.This is not expensive.
  • 我们 公司 Wǒmen gōngsī .Our 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

Videos