双重否定
HSK 4- Negation
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
Double negation uses two negative words in a single sentence to emphasize an affirmative meaning, conveying the sense of "cannot but" or "always."
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
In Chinese, two negatives do not cancel each other out but instead form a very strong affirmation. Just as in English, "cannot not" essentially means "must." This structure is commonly used to emphasize the necessity, compulsion, or universality of something. The most common pairs are 不得不 (bù dé bù), 非...不可 (fēi...bù kě), and 没有...不... (méiyǒu...bù...).
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 我不得不加班。Wǒ bùdébù jiābān.
I have to work overtime.
- 这件事非你去做不可。繁: 這件事非你去做不可。Zhè jiàn shì fēi nǐ qù zuò bùkě.
This matter must be done by you.
- 他没有一天不学习。繁: 他沒有一天不學習。Tā méiyǒu yì tiān bù xuéxí.
He doesn't go a single day without studying.
- 在场的人无不感动。繁: 在場的人無不感動。Zàichǎng de rén wú bù gǎndòng.
Everyone present was moved.
- 你不能不承认他很帅。繁: 你不能不承認他很帥。Nǐ bùnéng bù chéngrèn tā hěn shuài.
You cannot deny that he is very handsome.
Common mistakes
- Wrong:我不想去，但是我不得不。Correct:我不想去，但是我不得不去。
The adverb 不得不 must be followed by a verb and cannot stand alone as a predicate.
- Wrong:这件事非你不可做。Correct:这件事非你去做不可。
In the structure `非...不可`, `不可` must appear at the end of the sentence, after the entire verb phrase.