Negation in Chinese with 不 bù and 没 méi

In this post we’ll learn about negation in Chinesewith不 bù and没 méi. These particles both mean not, and they’re used to say things like I’m not…, I don’t…, I didn’t… and so on. But 不 bù and没 méi are not interchangeable. Each has its own specific uses depending on tense, habit, or meaning. Let’s break it down with examples and clear rules.

Negation in Chinese with 不 bù and 没 méi: Verb Tenses

Let’s start by looking at how to use 不 bù and 没 méi to negate certain verb tenses.  

Present or Future

Use 不 (bù) to negate actions that are happening now, or will happen in the future. It expresses intention, refusal, or general statements.

Structure: Subject + 不 + Verb

• 我不喝咖啡。
  Wǒ bù hē kāfēi.
  I’m not drinking coffee.
• 他明天不来。
  Tā míngtiān bù lái.
  He won’t come tomorrow.
• 我现在不想吃饭。
  Wǒ xiànzài bù xiǎng chīfàn.
  I don’t want to eat now.

Habitual

If someone never or habitually doesn’t do something, use 不 bù. Use this to describe routines, lifestyle choices, or rules.

Structure: Subject + 不 + Verb

• 我不吃肉。
  Wǒ bù chī ròu.
  I don’t eat meat.
• 她不喝酒。
  Tā bù hē jiǔ.
  She doesn’t drink alcohol.

Remember: Tone Changes with 不 bù

Keep in mind that 不 bù changes tone from fourth to second when it comes before a word with the fourth tone.

• 不 是
  (bù shì) is pronounced bú shì     
  not be
• 不 在
  (bù zài) is pronounced bú zài
  not be located
• 不 要
  (bù yào) is pronounced bú yào
  not want             

Past

Use 没 méi or 没有 méiyǒu to negate verbs in the past.

Structure: Subject + 没 (有) + Verb

• 我没吃。
  Wǒ méi chī.
  I didn’t eat.
• 我没吃早饭。
  Wǒ méi chī zǎofàn.
  I didn’t eat breakfast.
• 他昨天没去上班。
  Tā zuótiān méi qù shàngbān.
  He didn’t go to work yesterday.
• 我今天早上没有看到他。
  Wǒ jīntiān zǎoshang méiyǒu kàndào tā.
  I didn’t see him this morning.

In many cases, 没 méi and 没有 méiyǒu are interchangeable.

• 我没吃早饭。
  Wǒ méi chī zǎofàn.
  I didn’t eat breakfast.
• 我没有吃早饭。
  Wǒ méiyǒu chī zǎofàn.
  I didn’t eat breakfast.

However, there are some differences.没 méi is more commonly used in spoken language. It’s shorter and quicker.

• 他没来上课。
  Tā méi lái shàngkè.
   He didn’t come to class.

没有 méiyǒu can sound more complete or formal. It can also add a sense of clarity or emphasis that something definitely didn’t happen.

• 我没有说那句话。
  Wǒ méiyǒu shuō nà jù huà.
  I did not say that.
  

Negation in Chinese with 不 bù and 没 méi: Adjectives

When negating adjectives like tall, hungry, busy, and so on, use 不 bù.

Structure: Subject + 不 + Adjective

• 他不高。
  Tā bù gāo.
  He is not tall.
• 我不饿。
  Wǒ bú è.
  I’m not hungry.
• 这个不贵。
  Zhè ge bú guì.
  This is not expensive.
• 我不累。
  Wǒ bù lèi.
  I’m not tired.

Negation in Chinese with 不 bù and 没 méi: 有 yǒu (have)

To negate the verb 有 yǒu (have), use 没有 (méiyǒu).

Structure: Subject + 没有 + Noun

• 我有车。 我没有车。
  Wǒ yǒu chē. Wǒ méiyǒu chē.
  I have a car. I don’t have a car.
• 我没有钱。
  Wǒ méiyǒu qián.I don’t have money.
• 他没有兄弟姐妹。
  Tā méiyǒu xiōngdì jiěmèi.He has no siblings.
• 我没有手机。
  Wǒ méiyǒu shǒujī.
  I don’t have a phone.

Negation in Chinese with 不 bù and 没 méi: Questions

Now let’s look at a few question patterns that use the negative particles 不 bù or 没 méi.

Negative Questions

You can ask negative questions in Chinese to seek confirmation for something you assumed, or to show surprise. Just use the appropriate negative 不 bù or没 méi and the question particle 吗 ma.

• 你不是学生吗？
  Nǐ bú shì xuéshēng ma?
  Aren’t you a student?
• 你沒有車嗎？
  Nǐ méiyǒu chē ma?
  Don’t you have a car?
• 你没吃饭吗？
  Nǐ méi chīfàn ma?
  Didn’t you eat?

Verb-not-Verb Questions

Another common pattern you can use to ask if something is or isn’t true is A 不 A / A 没 A (verb-not-verb). This is a common way to form yes–no questions.

Structure: Verb + 不/没 + Verb
or
Adjective + 不 + Adjective

• 你是不是我的朋友？
  Nǐ shì bú shì wǒ de péngyou?
  Are you my friend (or not)?
• 他来不来？
  Tā lái bù lái?
  Is he coming?
• 这件衣服贵不贵？
  Zhè jiàn yīfu guì bú guì?
   Is this piece of clothing expensive?
• 她高兴不高兴？
  Tā gāoxìng bù gāoxìng?
  Is she happy (or not)?

Remember to use A 没 A with past sentences or sentences with the verb 有 yǒu (have).

• 你吃没吃？
  Nǐ chī méi chī?
  Did you eat?
• 他来没来？
  Tā lái méi lái?
  Did he come (or not)?
• 你昨天去没去？
  Nǐ zuótiān qù méi qù?
  Did you go yesterday (or not)?
• 你有没有钱？
  Nǐ yǒu méiyǒu qián?
  Do you have money?

Tag Questions

You’ll also come across tag questions formed with 是不是 shì bú shì (isn’t it?) or 对 不 对 duì bu duì (right?)

• 他是你哥哥，是不是？
  Tā shì nǐ gēge, shì bú shì?
  He’s your older brother, isn’t he?
• 他没来参加聚会，对不对？
  Tā méi lái cānjiā jùhuì, duì bu duì?
  He didn’t come to the party, right?

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