非 (classical Chinese)
HSK 6- Negation
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
非Noun/Noun phrase
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
非 is a formal written negation meaning 'is not' or 'not'.
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
Adverb 非 (fēi) is a formal negation, commonly used in written language, idioms, or official contexts. It is equivalent to 不是 but carries a more classical and concise tone.
You will often encounter 非 in fixed expressions such as:
非法(fēifǎ): illegal非同小可(fēi tóng xiǎo kě): no small matter非...不可(fēi...bùkě): must absolutely...
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 这件事非同小可。繁: 這件事非同小可。Zhè jiàn shì fēi tóng xiǎo kě.
This matter is no trivial affair.
- 你非去不可。Nǐ fēi qù bù kě.
You must go.
- 他被指控为非法移民。繁: 他被指控為非法移民。Tā bèi zhǐkòng wèi fēifǎ yímín.
He was accused of being an illegal immigrant.
- 此非我意。Cǐ fēi wǒ yì.
This is not my intention.
- 消息来自非官方渠道。繁: 消息來自非官方渠道。Xiāoxi láizì fēi guānfāng qúdào.
The news came from unofficial channels.