How to Say 'No' in Chinese: 不 (bù) and 没 (méi)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use {不|bù} for present/future or habits, and {没|méi} for past actions or possession.
- Use {不|bù} for present/future: {我不吃|wǒ bù chī} (I don't eat).
- Use {没|méi} for past actions: {我没吃|wǒ méi chī} (I didn't eat).
- Use {没|méi} for possession: {我没有|wǒ méiyǒu} (I don't have).
Overview
Mastering negation in Chinese is a foundational skill that unlocks much of the language's expressive power. Unlike English, which largely relies on a single word like "not" or "no," Mandarin Chinese employs two primary negative markers: 不 (bù) and 没 (méi), often appearing as 没有 (méiyǒu). These particles are not interchangeable; each serves a distinct grammatical and semantic function, primarily differentiated by the aspect of the verb they negate and the type of statement being made.
Understanding this distinction from the outset prevents common misunderstandings and grammatical errors.
At its core, 不 (bù) generally negates states, habits, future actions, intentions, opinions, and adjectives. It speaks to what is not true, not desired, or not customary. Conversely, 没 (méi) or 没有 (méiyǒu) primarily negates past actions or events that did not occur, as well as possession (有) and existence. It conveys a factual non-occurrence or non-possession. Think of 不 as negating will, habit, or characteristic, while 没 negates facts of experience or existence.
This fundamental division is key to using them correctly and reflects a deep-seated logical structure within Chinese grammar.
How This Grammar Works
不 (bù) and 没 (méi), you must grasp the underlying principles governing their application. The choice between them hinges on whether you are expressing a general negation, a subjective opinion, a future plan, or a habitual action (requiring 不), versus negating a past event, expressing non-possession, or non-existence (requiring 没/没有). This distinction is less about tense (past, present, future) and more about the verb's aspect—whether an action was completed, uncompleted, or is merely a state or intention.不 (bù): The Negator of Intent, Habit, and States不 (bù) functions as a general negator for a broad range of situations. Its primary role is to negate verbs expressing intention, desire, habit, or future actions. When you say you 不 do something, you are often expressing a lack of willingness, a general practice, or a plan not to perform an action.我不吃肉 (Wǒ bù chī ròu) – "I don't eat meat" – describes a dietary habit or preference, not a specific instance of not eating meat. It is a statement about your choice or nature.不 also negates adjectives. When describing something as “not big” or “not hot,” 不 is always used. For instance, 这个菜不辣 (Zhège cài bù là) – "This dish is not spicy" – describes a current state or characteristic.不 directly precedes the adjective it negates. Furthermore, 不 negates verbs of perception and cognition (e.g., 知道 – know, 认为 – think, 懂 – understand) and verbs expressing feelings or preferences (e.g., 喜欢 – like, 爱 – love).我不喜欢咖啡 (Wǒ bù xǐhuān kāfēi) – "I don't like coffee" – expresses a general preference.不 is always used to negate the verb 是 (shì, to be). The negative form is 不是 (bú shì). For example, 我不是学生 (Wǒ bú shì xuéshēng) – "I am not a student." This is a fundamental pattern for stating what something or someone is not.不: when 不 (bù, 4th tone) is followed by another 4th tone syllable, its tone changes to the 2nd tone, becoming bú. For example, 不 + 是 (shì, 4th tone) = 不 (bú) 是 (bú shì). This phonetic adjustment makes pronunciation smoother and more natural, a common feature in spoken Chinese to avoid successive heavy tones.没 (méi) / 没有 (méiyǒu): The Negator of Existence and Completed Events没 (méi) or 没有 (méiyǒu) serves a distinct purpose: it negates possession (有) and the occurrence or completion of actions or events. When you use 没 or 没有, you are stating a factual non-existence, a non-possession, or that an action has not taken place up to the point of speaking. This makes 没 intrinsically linked to aspect rather than tense, specifically marking an event as unrealized or uncompleted.没有 is to negate the verb 有 (yǒu, to have/exist). You never use 不有. It is always 没有.我没有钱 (Wǒ méiyǒu qián) – "I don't have money." This describes a current state of non-possession. Similarly, 没有 can negate existence, as in 这里没有咖啡 (Zhèlǐ méiyǒu kāfēi) – "There is no coffee here."没 or 没有 negates a verb other than 有, it indicates that the action did not happen or has not yet happened. For example, 我没吃饭 (Wǒ méi chīfàn) – "I haven't eaten" or "I didn't eat." Here, 没 directly precedes the verb 吃 (chī, to eat) and signifies the non-occurrence of the action. Note that 有 is often optional when 没 negates a verb (e.g., 我没去 or 我没有去 – "I didn't go").没有 might be preferred. The key takeaway is that 没/没有 describes a factual absence or non-occurrence, contrasting with 不's role in negating intentions, habits, or general states.Formation Pattern
不 and 没/没有 are quite straightforward once you internalize their core functions. Pay close attention to the type of verb or adjective being negated and the aspect (habitual/future vs. past/completion) you wish to express.
不
不 + Verb | 我不去 | Wǒ bù qù | I won't go / I don't go. |
不 + Verb | 他不喜欢吃辣 | Tā bù xǐhuān chī là | He doesn't like spicy food. |
不 + Verb | 我们不喝啤酒 | Wǒmen bù hē píjiǔ | We don't drink beer. |
不
不 + Adj | 这件衣服不贵 | Zhè jiàn yīfu bù guì | This piece of clothing is not expensive. |
不 + Adj | 天气不冷 | Tiānqì bù lěng | The weather is not cold. |
不 + Adj | 他不高兴 | Tā bù gāoxìng | He is not happy. |
是 (shì) with 不
不是 (bú shì) due to the tone change.
不是 | 我不是老师 | Wǒ bú shì lǎoshī | I am not a teacher. |
不是 | 这不是我的书 | Zhè bú shì wǒ de shū | This is not my book. |
没 / 没有
没 (+ 有) + Verb | 我没吃饭 (or 我没有吃饭) | Wǒ méi chīfàn | I didn't eat / I haven't eaten. |
没 (+ 有) + Verb | 她没来 (or 她没有来) | Tā méi lái | She didn't come / She hasn't come. |
没 (+ 有) + Verb | 你没看完这本书 | Nǐ méi kàn wán zhè běn shū | You haven't finished reading this book. |
没有
没有 to negate 有 (yǒu). This signifies non-possession or non-existence.
没有 + Noun | 我没有钱 | Wǒ méiyǒu qián | I don't have money. |
没有 + Noun | 他没有女朋友 | Tā méiyǒu nǚpéngyou | He doesn't have a girlfriend. |
没有 + Noun | 桌子上没有笔 | Zhuōzi shàng méiyǒu bǐ | There is no pen on the table. |
When To Use It
不 and 没 is paramount for natural communication. Each particle signals a different type of negation, reflecting either a state of being, a habitual action, an intention, or a factual non-occurrence.不 (bù) when:- Expressing a habit or routine: You are stating something you generally do not do.
我每天早上不喝咖啡。(Wǒ měitiān zǎoshang bù hē kāfēi.) – I don't drink coffee every morning.她不吃辣。(Tā bù chī là.) – She doesn't eat spicy food.- Declaring a future intention or refusal: You are stating what you will not do.
我明天不去学校。(Wǒ míngtiān bù qù xuéxiào.) – I won't go to school tomorrow.他不想看电影。(Tā bù xiǎng kàn diànyǐng.) – He doesn't want to watch the movie.- Negating adjectives or mental states: You are describing a quality or an internal feeling.
这个菜不咸。(Zhège cài bù xián.) – This dish is not salty.我不明白。(Wǒ bù míngbai.) – I don't understand.- Negating the verb
是(shì): Always不是(bú shì). 这不是我的看法。(Zhè bú shì wǒ de kànfǎ.) – This is not my opinion.
没 (méi) or 没有 (méiyǒu) when:- Negating possession: You are stating you do not have something.
我没有带伞。(Wǒ méiyǒu dài sǎn.) – I didn't bring an umbrella (lit. I don't have an umbrella with me).我们家没有宠物。(Wǒmen jiā méiyǒu chǒngwù.) – Our family doesn't have pets.- Negating the occurrence of a past action or event: You are stating something did not happen or has not happened yet.
他昨天没来上班。(Tā zuótiān méi lái shàngbān.) – He didn't come to work yesterday.我还没看完这本书。(Wǒ hái méi kàn wán zhè běn shū.) – I haven't finished reading this book yet. (Here还(hái) means 'still' or 'yet', emphasizing the action is not completed up to now.)- Negating the existence of something: You are stating something does not exist in a particular place or context.
冰箱里没有牛奶了。(Bīngxiāng lǐ méiyǒu niúnǎi le.) – There's no milk left in the fridge.这个城市没有地铁。(Zhège chéngshì méiyǒu dìtiě.) – This city doesn't have a subway.
还没 (hái méi): The particle 还 (hái, still/yet) often precedes 没 to specifically indicate an action has not yet occurred, but is expected to. This is a very common and useful construction:你吃了吗？(Nǐ chī le ma?) – Have you eaten?还没呢。(Hái méi ne.) – Not yet.
Common Mistakes
不 and 没. Recognizing these patterns and understanding the linguistic reasoning behind them will significantly improve your accuracy.不 and 没 for Past Actions:不 to negate actions in the past. Remember, for actions that did not happen, or have not been completed, you almost always use 没 (or 没有).- Incorrect:
我昨天不吃饭。(Wǒ zuótiān bù chīfàn.) – This implies a general habit of not eating yesterday, which makes no sense. - Correct:
我昨天没吃饭。(Wǒ zuótiān méi chīfàn.) – I didn't eat yesterday.
不有 (bù yǒu):不有 is grammatically incorrect in Mandarin. To negate 有 (yǒu, to have/exist), you must use 没有 (méiyǒu). This is an absolute rule with no exceptions.- Incorrect:
我有一本书，但现在我不有。(Wǒ yǒu yī běn shū, dàn xiànzài wǒ bù yǒu.) - Correct:
我有一本书，但现在我没有。(Wǒ yǒu yī běn shū, dàn xiànzài wǒ méiyǒu.) – I have a book, but I don't have it now.
了 (le) after 没 for Negation:了 (le) to a verb already negated by 没. The particle 了 often indicates completion or realization of an action. Since 没 already signifies non-occurrence or non-completion, adding 了 after the verb creates a contradiction in aspect. The particle 了 should generally not appear with 没 when 没 negates a verb's occurrence.- Incorrect:
我没去了。(Wǒ méi qù le.) - Correct:
我没去。(Wǒ méi qù.) – I didn't go.
没...了 can indicate a change of state, e.g., 没钱了 (méi qián le) – "no money left/anymore." But for A1 learners negating actions, avoid this pattern.不 (bù) Tone Change:不 (bù -> bú) before another 4th tone can sound unnatural. Practice saying 不是 (bú shì), 不看 (bú kàn), 不饿 (bú è) to solidify this pattern. It makes your Chinese sound much more fluent.不 with 别 (bié):不 states a fact or intention, whereas 别 (bié) issues a prohibition or command (Don't!). 别 functions like an imperative, telling someone not to do something.你不要去。(Nǐ bú yào qù.) – You don't want to go. (Statement of desire)你别去！(Nǐ bié qù!) – Don't go! (Command/Prohibition)
Real Conversations
To truly grasp 不 and 没, observe how they function in authentic communication. These examples reflect typical interactions, demonstrating the nuanced choices native speakers make.
Scenario 1
A
你今天晚上有空吗？我们一起去吃饭？ (Nǐ jīntiān wǎnshang yǒu kòng ma? Wǒmen yīqǐ qù chīfàn?) – Are you free tonight? Shall we go eat together?B
不好意思，我今晚不方便，我加班。 (Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ jīn wǎn bù fāngbiàn, wǒ jiābān.) – Sorry, I’m not free tonight, I’m working overtime. (Uses 不 to negate a state/convenience)Scenario 2
A
你昨天回家后做饭了吗？ (Nǐ zuótiān huí jiā hòu zuòfàn le ma?) – Did you cook after you got home yesterday?B
没做，太累了，直接点了外卖。 (Méi zuò, tài lèi le, zhíjiē diǎn le wàimài.) – No, I didn't. I was too tired, I just ordered takeout. (Uses 没 to negate a past action)Scenario 3
A
你觉得这件衣服好看吗？ (Nǐ juéde zhè jiàn yīfu hǎokàn ma?) – Do you think this outfit looks good?B
我觉得不好看，而且我没有这种风格的衣服。 (Wǒ juéde bù hǎokàn, érqiě wǒ méiyǒu zhè zhǒng fēnggé de yīfu.) – I don't think it looks good, and I don't have clothes in this style. (Uses 不 for opinion, 没有 for non-possession)Scenario 4
A
作业写完了吗？ (Zuòyè xiě wán le ma?) – Have you finished your homework?B
还没呢，有点儿难。 (Hái méi ne, yǒudiǎnr nán.) – Not yet, it's a bit difficult. (Uses 还没 for action not yet completed)Scenario 5
Friend 1
你吃早饭了吗？ (Nǐ chī zǎofàn le ma?) - Did you eat breakfast?Friend 2
没。我平时不吃早饭。 (Méi. Wǒ píngshí bù chī zǎofàn.) - No. I usually don't eat breakfast. (Contrasting 没 for the current instance with 不 for habit)Quick FAQ
不 and 没.不 for the past?Generally, no, for specific past actions. If you want to say an event did not occur, you should use 没 (méi) or 没有 (méiyǒu). For example, 我昨天没去图书馆 (Wǒ zuótiān méi qù túshūguǎn) – I didn't go to the library yesterday. However, 不 can be used with verbs referring to past habitual actions (e.g., 我以前不吃肉 – Wǒ yǐqián bù chī ròu – "I didn't eat meat before") or to negate a state that existed in the past (e.g., 那时候她不开心 – Nà shíhou tā bù kāixīn – "She wasn't happy at that time"). For beginners, it's safest to stick to 没 for specific past non-occurrences.
没有 always two characters, or can it be shortened?When negating a verb (other than 有 itself) or indicating that an action hasn't happened, 没有 can often be shortened to just 没. For example, 我没吃 (Wǒ méi chī) and 我没有吃 (Wǒ méiyǒu chī) both mean "I didn't eat/haven't eaten." The longer 没有 can sometimes add a slight emphasis or sound more formal. However, when negating possession (i.e., "don't have"), it is most common and natural to use the full 没有. You cannot say 我没钱 if you mean "I don't have money"; you must say 我没有钱 (or more colloquially 我没钱了 when you ran out of money).
There isn't a direct equivalent to the English "no" as a universal single-word answer. Instead, Chinese speakers typically negate the verb from the question. If someone asks 你去吗？ (Nǐ qù ma? – Are you going?), you would respond 不去。 (Bù qù. – Not going.). If the question uses 有, you'd respond 没有。 (Méiyǒu. – Don't have/didn't.). If the question uses 是, you'd respond 不是。 (Bú shì. – Am not.). This pattern reinforces the grammatical distinction between 不 and 没 even in short answers.
In classical Chinese, 不 (bù) and 弗 (fú) were primarily used for negating present or future actions and states, while 未 (wèi) and 无 (wú) served functions similar to modern 没/没有 by indicating non-occurrence or non-existence. The modern Chinese system, while simplified, retains this ancient philosophical distinction between negating states/intentions and negating facts/existence, which is why 不 and 没 are so fundamental.
不 be used in a double negative to mean "yes"?Yes, this is an advanced but interesting construction. A common example is 我不是不喜欢 (Wǒ bú shì bù xǐhuān) which literally means "It's not that I don't like it." This implies a reluctant or qualified "I do like it," often with some reservation. For A1 learners, it's generally best to avoid complex double negatives and focus on clear, direct negation. However, being aware of this nuanced usage demonstrates the depth of Chinese expression. For instance, 他不是不努力 (Tā bú shì bù nǔlì) means "It's not that he isn't hardworking," implying he is hardworking, but perhaps facing obstacles.
Negation Particle Selection
| Category | Particle | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Present
|
不
|
Habit/State
|
{我不吃|wǒ bù chī}
|
|
Future
|
不
|
Intention
|
{我不去|wǒ bù qù}
|
|
Past
|
没
|
Action
|
{我没吃|wǒ méi chī}
|
|
Possession
|
没
|
Have
|
{我没有|wǒ méiyǒu}
|
|
Adjective
|
不
|
State
|
{我不累|wǒ bù lèi}
|
|
Modal
|
不
|
Ability/Will
|
{我不想|wǒ bù xiǎng}
|
Common Contractions
| Full | Shortened | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
|
没有
|
没
|
Don't have
|
Meanings
These are the two primary negation particles in Chinese. {不|bù} negates current states or future intentions, while {没|méi} negates completed actions or existence.
Present/Future Negation
Negating a current state, habit, or future action.
“{我不喝咖啡|wǒ bù hē kāfēi}”
“{明天我不工作|míngtiān wǒ bù gōngzuò}”
Past Negation
Negating an action that did not happen in the past.
“{我没看电影|wǒ méi kàn diànyǐng}”
“{他没来|tā méi lái}”
Possession Negation
Negating the verb {有|yǒu} (to have).
“{我没有钱|wǒ méiyǒu qián}”
“{他没有车|tā méiyǒu chē}”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Present
|
Subj + 不 + Verb
|
{我不喝|wǒ bù hē}
|
|
Past
|
Subj + 没 + Verb
|
{我没喝|wǒ méi hē}
|
|
Possession
|
Subj + 没有 + Obj
|
{我没有钱|wǒ méiyǒu qián}
|
|
Adjective
|
Subj + 不 + Adj
|
{我不饿|wǒ bù è}
|
|
Question
|
Subj + Verb + 不 + Verb
|
{你去不去|nǐ qù bù qù}
|
|
Negative Question
|
Subj + 没 + Verb + 吗
|
{你没吃饭吗|nǐ méi chīfàn ma}
|
Formality Spectrum
{我不想要|wǒ bù xiǎng yào} (Declining an offer)
{我不要|wǒ bùyào} (Declining an offer)
{不要|bùyào} (Declining an offer)
{不要啦|bùyào la} (Declining an offer)
Negation Logic
不 (bù)
- Present Now
- Future Later
- Habit Always
没 (méi)
- Past Before
- Possession Have
Examples by Level
{我不喝茶|wǒ bù hē chá}
I don't drink tea.
{我没有书|wǒ méiyǒu shū}
I don't have a book.
{我不去学校|wǒ bù qù xuéxiào}
I am not going to school.
{他没来|tā méi lái}
He didn't come.
{我不喜欢吃辣|wǒ bù xǐhuān chī là}
I don't like eating spicy food.
{我没做作业|wǒ méi zuò zuòyè}
I didn't do my homework.
{这儿没有厕所|zhèr méiyǒu cèsuǒ}
There is no restroom here.
{我不累|wǒ bù lèi}
I am not tired.
{我没听懂他说什么|wǒ méi tīngdǒng tā shuō shénme}
I didn't understand what he said.
{我不打算去旅游|wǒ bù dǎsuàn qù lǚyóu}
I don't plan to travel.
{他没吃过北京烤鸭|tā méi chīguò běijīng kǎoyā}
He hasn't eaten Peking duck.
{我不觉得这是对的|wǒ bù juéde zhè shì duì de}
I don't think this is correct.
{无论你怎么说，我都不去|wúlùn nǐ zěnme shuō, wǒ dōu bù qù}
No matter what you say, I won't go.
{他没能完成任务|tā méi néng wánchéng rènwù}
He failed to complete the task.
{我不至于那么生气|wǒ bù zhìyú nàme shēngqì}
I wouldn't go so far as to be that angry.
{我没意识到问题的严重性|wǒ méi yìshídào wèntí de yánzhòngxìng}
I didn't realize the severity of the problem.
{我不以为然|wǒ bù yǐwéirán}
I do not agree.
{他没能幸免于难|tā méi néng xìngmiǎn yú nàn}
He didn't manage to escape the disaster.
{我不禁流下了眼泪|wǒ bùjīn liúxiàle yǎnlèi}
I couldn't help but shed tears.
{没过多久他就走了|méi guò duōjiǔ tā jiù zǒule}
Not long after, he left.
{不入虎穴，焉得虎子|bù rù hǔxué, yān dé hǔzǐ}
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
{没成想他竟然是这样的人|méi chéngxiǎng tā jìngrán shì zhèyàng de rén}
I didn't expect him to be such a person.
{我不日即归|wǒ bùrì jí guī}
I will return in a few days.
{没奈何，只好如此|méi nàihé, zhǐhǎo rúcǐ}
There was no other way, it had to be this way.
Easily Confused
Learners mix up past and present.
Learners try to negate 有 with 不.
Learners use 不 for commands.
Common Mistakes
{我不有钱|wǒ bù yǒu qián}
{我没有钱|wǒ méiyǒu qián}
{我没去学校明天|wǒ méi qù xuéxiào míngtiān}
{我明天不去学校|wǒ míngtiān bù qù xuéxiào}
{我不吃了|wǒ bù chī le}
{我不吃了|wǒ bù chī le} (Wait, this is okay, but don't use {没|méi} with {了|le})
{他没是老师|tā méi shì lǎoshī}
{他不是老师|tā bù shì lǎoshī}
{我没想去|wǒ méi xiǎng qù}
{我不想去|wǒ bù xiǎng qù}
{他没累|tā méi lèi}
{他不累|tā bù lèi}
{我没能去|wǒ méi néng qù}
{我不能去|wǒ bù néng qù}
{他没喜欢我|tā méi xǐhuān wǒ}
{他不喜欢我|tā bù xǐhuān wǒ}
{我没知道|wǒ méi zhīdào}
{我不知道|wǒ bù zhīdào}
{没关系，我不去|méi guānxì, wǒ méi qù}
{没关系，我不去|méi guānxì, wǒ bù qù}
{没必要去|méi bìyào qù}
{没必要去|méi bìyào qù} (This is actually correct, but watch for nuance)
Sentence Patterns
我___ + Verb
他___ + Adj
我___ + 有 + Object
___ + 打算 + Verb
Real World Usage
{我不去|wǒ bù qù}
{我不要香菜|wǒ bùyào xiāngcài}
{我不方便|wǒ bù fāngbiàn}
{我没钱|wǒ méi qián}
{我不喜欢|wǒ bù xǐhuān}
{没货|méi huò}
The 'Have' Rule
Past vs. Future
Tone Change
Politeness
Smart Tips
Always use {没有|méiyǒu}. Never {不有|bù yǒu}.
Ask: Is it happening now or did it happen in the past?
Adjectives always take {不|bù}.
If it's a habit, use {不|bù}.
Pronunciation
Tone Change
{不|bù} changes to 2nd tone (bú) before another 4th tone.
Statement
Subject + 不/没 + Verb ↓
Neutral declarative tone
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Bù is for the now and future, Méi is for the past you knew.
Visual Association
Imagine a 'B' for 'Bù' as a clock ticking in the present, and an 'M' for 'Méi' as a memory bubble from the past.
Rhyme
Bù for the present, Méi for the past, learn this rule and you'll learn it fast.
Story
I wanted to go to the park. I said, 'I don't want to go' ({我不去|wǒ bù qù}) because I was tired. Later, my friend asked if I went. I said, 'I didn't go' ({我没去|wǒ méi qù}). I checked my pocket, but I didn't have money ({我没有钱|wǒ méiyǒu qián}).
Word Web
Challenge
Write 5 sentences about your day: 3 things you didn't do (using {没|méi}) and 2 things you don't like (using {不|bù}).
Cultural Notes
People often use {没|méi} to be polite when declining.
The usage is similar, but {没有|méiyǒu} is often shortened to {没|méi} more frequently in speech.
They might map their own negation particles to {不|bù} and {没|méi} differently.
不 was originally a pictograph of a bird flying up, meaning 'no/not'. 没 comes from the character for 'submerge', implying 'to disappear' or 'not have'.
Conversation Starters
你今天吃了吗？
你有中文书吗？
你明天去学校吗？
你以前去过中国吗？
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
我___吃早饭。
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
我不去学校昨天。
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
I don't drink coffee.
Answer starts with: a...
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
A: 你去吗？ B: ___
Use: 我, 不, 喜欢, 辣
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercises我___吃早饭。
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
我不去学校昨天。
去 / 我 / 不 / 明天
I don't drink coffee.
Match the tense.
A: 你去吗？ B: ___
Use: 我, 不, 喜欢, 辣
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercises喝 / 不 / 我 / 咖啡
I don't have time.
Choose the correct adjective negation:
他 ___ 在家。
我没有买手机了。
Match the pairs:
Choose the correct pronunciation for 'is not':
我 ___ 看电影。
He is not a teacher.
吃 / 没 / 早饭 / 我
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
No, {没|méi} is strictly for past or possession.
It's a sandhi rule to make pronunciation easier before 4th tones.
Yes, {没|méi} is just a short form of {没有|méiyǒu}.
Yes, e.g., {我不吃了|wǒ bù chī le} (I won't eat anymore).
Yes, it is standard in all registers.
Always use {不|bù}.
If it's a state, use {不|bù}. If it's an action, think about the time.
Some dialects use different particles, but {不|bù} and {没|méi} are universal.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
no
Chinese differentiates past and present negation.
ne...pas
Chinese negation is a single word.
nicht/kein
Chinese is aspect-based.
nai
Chinese verbs do not change form.
la/lam
Arabic particles are more complex.
不/没
None.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Grammar Rules
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Negating with `没(有)`: Didn't Do & Don't Have
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Experiencing the Past: Using 过 (guo)
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