HSK 1

English Meaning

📚 Example Sentences

我不吃。
Wǒ bù chī.
I don't eat.
他不是人。
Tā bù shì rén.
He is not a person.
这不好。
Zhè bù hǎo.
This is not good.
我不喜欢咖啡。
Wǒ bù xǐhuān kāfēi.
I do not like coffee.
她还没准备好离开。
Tā hái méi zhǔnbèi hǎo líkāi.
She is not ready to leave.

💡 Memory Tip

Think of 不 as a stop sign—it stops or negates an action. Its shape resembles a person with arms crossed, saying 'no.' Associate it with the English 'boo,' as in 'boo, I don't like that!' to remember its sound and negative meaning.

📝 Usage Notes

不 is used in both formal and informal contexts, in spoken and written Chinese. It is extremely common for negating present or future actions, habitual behaviors, and inherent qualities (e.g., negating adjectives). It is not typically used to negate past actions completed with 了 (le); for that, 没 (méi) is used. Tone sandhi occurs when followed by another fourth tone, changing 不 (bù) to 不 (bú), as in 不是 (bú shì).

📖 Grammar Points

不 is placed directly before the verb or adjective it negates (e.g., 不吃 'not eat,' 不好 'not good'). It is used in the 不...不... structure for double negation or conditional meaning (e.g., 不得不 'have to'). In potential complements, it indicates impossibility (e.g., 吃不下 'cannot eat anymore').

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese communication, direct negation with 不 can sometimes sound blunt; it is often softened with phrases like 不太 (bú tài, 'not very') or context. Replying with just 不 can be perceived as rude in formal situations; a more polite refusal might include a reason.

🔄 Similar Words

不 is often compared with 没 (méi). 不 negates subjective意愿 (willingness), habitual actions, or inherent traits (e.g., 我不去 'I am not going'). 没 negates objective existence or completion of past actions (e.g., 我没去 'I did not go'). 不 is also distinct from 别 (bié), which is used for prohibitions ('don't').

Master this word with quizzes, flashcards & more

Learn in CILI →