Chinese grammar · Beginner (A1)
Negation: 不, 没 and 别
Three words for “not”: 不 for now, habits and the future, 没(有) for the past and for 有, and 别 or 不要 for “don't”.
不: now, habits and the future
(bù) goes right before the verb or adjective. It's used for the present, for habits, for the future and for wishes: (wǒ bù hē kāfēi, I don't drink coffee), (wǒ míngtiān bú qù, I'm not going tomorrow), (tā bù máng, she isn't busy).
Modal verbs and phrases come before the main verb, so goes before them: (wǒ bú huì yóuyǒng, I can't swim), (wǒ bú zài jiā chīfàn, I don't eat at home). means “not very”: (bú tài hǎo, not very good).
- 我不喝咖啡。Wǒ bù hē kāfēi.I don't drink coffee.
- 我明天不去。Wǒ míngtiān bú qù.I'm not going tomorrow.
- 她今天不忙。Tā jīntiān bù máng.She isn't busy today.
- 我不会游泳。Wǒ bú huì yóuyǒng.I can't swim.
The tone change of 不
is a fourth tone, but before another fourth tone it is said with a second tone: bú. This course always writes the tone you actually say. In the middle of an A-not-A question, is light: (qù bu qù, going or not). It is also light between a verb and its result: (tīng bu dǒng), can't understand.
| Before | Said | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| tone 1 | bù | (bù chī, not eat), (bù hē, not drink) |
| tone 2 | bù | (bù lái, not come), (bù máng, not busy) |
| tone 3 | bù | (bù hǎo, not good), (bù xiǎng, not want to) |
| tone 4 | bú | (bú shì, is not), (bú là, not spicy), (bú kèqi, you're welcome) |
| in A-not-A | bu, light | (shì bu shì), (hǎo bu hǎo) |
| between a verb and its result | bu, light | (chī bu wán), (tīng bu dǒng) |
没(有): with 有 and for the past
(yǒu, to have; there is) is the one verb that never takes . Its negative is (méiyǒu), often shortened to (méi): (wǒ méiyǒu gēge, I don't have an older brother), never 我不有.
or before another verb says that something didn't happen: (wǒ zuótiān méi qù, I didn't go yesterday). Don't add 了 here: 我没去了 is wrong. (hái méi) means “not yet”: (tā hái méi lái, he hasn't come yet).
| English | Chinese |
|---|---|
| I'm not going. | (Wǒ bú qù.) |
| I don't want to go. | (Wǒ bù xiǎng qù.) |
| I didn't go. | (Wǒ méi qù.) |
| I haven't gone yet. | (Wǒ hái méi qù.) |
| I don't have time. | (Wǒ méiyǒu shíjiān.) |
- 我没有哥哥。Wǒ méiyǒu gēge.I don't have an older brother.
- 我昨天没去。Wǒ zuótiān méi qù.I didn't go yesterday.
- 他还没来。Tā hái méi lái.He hasn't come yet.
别 and 不要: don't
To tell someone not to do something, put (bié) or (bú yào) before the verb. They mean the same; is more common in speech. Add (qǐng) to be polite: (qǐng bié zháojí, please don't worry).
Because can mean “don't”, “I don't want to (do something)” is usually (wǒ bù xiǎng). is fine for turning down a thing: (wǒ bú yào sùliàodài, I don't need a plastic bag).
- 别跑！Bié pǎo!Don't run!
- 别着急。Bié zháojí.Don't worry.
- 请不要在这儿停车。Qǐng bú yào zài zhèr tíngchē.Please don't park here.
- 我不要塑料袋，谢谢。Wǒ bú yào sùliàodài, xièxie.I don't need a plastic bag, thanks.