不
HSK 1- Negation
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Subject不Verb / Adjective
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
The adverb 不 is used to negate actions in the present or future, or to negate a fact or habit.
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
The adverb 不 (bù) is the most common form of negation, used for the present, future, or habitual actions. It is placed directly before a verb or adjective.
The key difference from 没 (méi) is that 不 is not used for actions that have already occurred in the past. For example, "yesterday I didn't go" must be expressed as 昨天我没去.
Note on pronunciation: when 不 precedes another 4th-tone syllable, it undergoes tone sandhi and is pronounced in the 2nd tone, read as bú. For example: 不是 (bú shì), 不去 (bú qù).
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 我不吃米饭。繁: 我不吃米飯。Wǒ bù chī mǐfàn.
I don't eat rice.
- 他今天不高兴。繁: 他今天不高興。Tā jīntiān bù gāoxìng.
He is not happy today.
- 我们明天不去学校。繁: 我們明天不去學校。Wǒmen míngtiān bú qù xuéxiào.
We are not going to school tomorrow.
- 这不是我的书。繁: 這不是我的書。Zhè bú shì wǒ de shū.
This is not my book.
- 她不喝咖啡。Tā bù hē kāfēi.
She doesn't drink coffee.