Everything you need to use negation correctly: the patterns, when to use them, examples with audio, common mistakes and exercises with answers.
Chinese has two main negators: 不 (bù) for the present, the future and habits, and 没 (méi) for the past and completed actions. Choosing the wrong one is a very common mistake. Key patterns: Subject + 不 + Verb/Adjective; Subject + 没(有) + Verb; Subject + 不是 + Noun.
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Negation with 不 | S + 不 + V/Adj Subject + 不 + Verb/Adjective | 我不喝咖啡。 I do not drink coffee. Use it for habits, intentions, qualities and the future |
| Negation with 没(有) | S + 没(有) + V Subject + 没(有) + Verb | 我昨天没去学校。 I did not go to school yesterday. Use it for the past: things that did happen, or that have not happened yet |
| Negating 是 | S + 不是 + N Subject + 不是 + Noun | 他不是老师。 He is not a teacher. 是 is always negated with 不, never with 没 |
Use 不 for habits and for the present
Use 没 for actions in the past, or ones that have not happened
Pick the right option, then open the answer to check it.
Options: 不 · 了 · 别 · 吗
不. 不 negates habits and the present: I do not drink coffee.
Options: 不 · 了 · 吗 · 没
不. 不 negates future actions; 没 is only for things that did not happen: I am not going to work tomorrow.
Options: 我昨天不去学校。 · 我昨天没了学校。 · 我昨天没去学校。 · 昨天我不去了学校。
我昨天没去学校。. Past actions take 没, not 不.
Options: 不 · 了 · 别 · 没
没. 没 is used for past actions: He did not come to class yesterday.
Options: 他不了老师。 · 他不是老师。 · 他没是老师。 · 他没有老师。
他不是老师。. 是 is always negated as 不是, never with 没.
Options: 不 · 了 · 别 · 没
没. 有 is negated only with 没, never 不有: I do not have a younger sister.
Options: 不 · 了 · 别 · 没
不. Adjectives describing a quality are negated with 不: This dish is not tasty.
Options: 不 · 了 · 别 · 没
没. An action that did not happen in the past takes 没: I did not watch a film yesterday.
Options: 不 · 别 · 很 · 没
不. 是 is always negated as 不是: He is not my older brother.
Options: 不 · 了 · 别 · 没
别. A "don't" warning uses 别: Don't forget to bring your phone!
Options: 不 · 了 · 别 · 没
不. 会 (can, know how) is negated as 不会: I cannot speak Japanese.
Options: 不 · 别 · 是 · 没
没. Something that did not happen last week takes 没: He did not go to work last week; he was ill.
Options: 我不有钱。 · 我有没钱。 · 我没是钱。 · 我没有钱。
我没有钱。. The negative of 有 is 没有, placed before the object: I have no money.
Options: 不 · 别 · 是 · 没
不. Likes and feelings in general are negated with 不: I do not like rainy days.
Options: 不 · 了 · 别 · 没
不. The adjective 贵 is negated with 不: This piece of clothing is not expensive.
Options: 昨天下没雨。 · 昨天不下了雨。 · 昨天没下雨。 · 昨天没下雨了。
昨天没下雨。. Past negation puts 没 before the verb and drops 了: It did not rain yesterday.
Options: 不 · 了 · 是 · 没
不. 不客气 is the set reply to thanks: You are welcome!
Options: 不 · 别 · 是 · 没
没. An experience with 过 can only be negated with 没: I have never eaten Peking duck.
Options: 他不会游泳。 · 他不游泳会。 · 他会没游泳。 · 他没会游泳。
他不会游泳。. 会 is negated as 不会, placed before the verb: He cannot swim.
Options: 不 · 别 · 很 · 没
不. 不太 + adjective = not very: His health is not very good.
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