When you want to say something is 'very not' or express a strong negation, you can use 很不 (hěn bù). For example, if something is really not good, you can say 很不好 (hěn bù hǎo). It emphasizes the 'not' part of the adjective or verb that follows. This is a common way to strengthen a negative statement in Chinese.
When you want to express a strong negative, use 很不. It's more emphatic than just using 不 (bù).
Think of it like saying 'very much not' or 'not at all'. For instance, if something is really not good, you'd say 很不好 (hěn bù hǎo) instead of just 不好 (bù hǎo).
It emphasizes the degree of negation, making your statement much clearer and stronger.
When using “很不” (hěn bù), think of it as emphasizing the negation. It's stronger than just “不” (bù). For example, if you say “我不好” (wǒ bù hǎo), it simply means "I am not good." But if you say “我很不好” (wǒ hěn bù hǎo), it conveys a stronger sense of being "very not good" or "quite bad." It often implies a more significant degree of the negative state or quality. This adverbial structure is a useful way to add emphasis when you want to express a strong disagreement or a heightened negative condition, similar to saying "definitely not" or "far from good" in English. Mastering this nuance will help you express yourself more precisely and with greater impact in Chinese.
很不 in 30 Seconds
- Combines 'very' and 'not'.
- Strongly negates an adjective or verb.
- Means 'very much not' or 'really not'.
So you want to use 很不 (hěn bù)? Great choice! It's a handy phrase for expressing a strong negative feeling or opinion. Think of it as 'very not' or 'not very' but with more oomph.
§ Basic Structure: 很不 + Adjective/Verb
The most common way to use 很不 is to put it directly before an adjective or a psychological verb (a verb that describes a mental or emotional state, like 喜欢 'to like' or 舒服 'comfortable').
她很不高兴。
Translation hint: She is very not happy. (She is very unhappy.)
我今天很不舒服。
Translation hint: I today very not comfortable. (I feel very uncomfortable today.)
§ Expressing Dislike or Disagreement
You'll often hear 很不 used when someone wants to express strong disapproval or dislike.
我很不喜欢这个主意。
Translation hint: I very not like this idea. (I really don't like this idea.)
他对你的做法很不同意。
Translation hint: He to your way of doing very not agree. (He strongly disagrees with your approach.)
§ Intensifying Negative Opinions
When you want to really emphasize that something is NOT good or NOT right, 很不 is your friend.
她对这次的结果很不满意。 (Translation hint: She to this result very not satisfied. She is very unsatisfied with this result.)
这个决定很不公平。 (Translation hint: This decision very not fair. This decision is very unfair.)
§ Things to Avoid
While 很不 is versatile, there are a few situations where it doesn't quite fit:
- Don't use it with quantity
- You wouldn't say 很不少 (hěn bù shǎo) for 'very not few.' Instead, you'd just say 很多 (hěn duō) 'very many' or 不多 (bù duō) 'not many.'
- Not for simple factual negation
- If you simply want to say 'it's not raining,' you'd use 不下雨 (bù xiàyǔ), not 很不下雨. 很不 adds an emotional or judgmental layer.
Keep practicing, and you'll get the hang of using 很不 like a native speaker!
§ Don't confuse 很不 with 不太 (bù tài)
Many learners mix up 很不 (hěn bù) and 不太 (bù tài). While both express a negative idea, their intensity is different. 很不 is a strong negation, meaning "very not" or "not at all." 不太 means "not too" or "not very," indicating a milder negative.
他很不高兴。
Tā hěn bù gāoxìng. (He is very unhappy. / He is not at all happy.)
他不太高兴。
Tā bù tài gāoxìng. (He is not too happy. / He is not very happy.)
§ Using 很不 with adjectives that are already negative
You generally don't use 很不 with adjectives that inherently carry a strong negative meaning. It can sound redundant or unnatural. For example, instead of saying 很不好 (hěn bù hǎo) for "very not good," you'd typically just say 很差 (hěn chà) for "very bad" or simply 不好 (bù hǎo) if it's not extremely bad.
- Wrong
- 这个饭菜很不差。
Zhège fàncài hěn bù chà. (This food is very not bad.) - This is incorrect.
- Correct
- 这个饭菜很差。
Zhège fàncài hěn chà. (This food is very bad.)
§ Overusing 很不
While 很不 is useful for strong negation, don't overuse it. Sometimes a simple 不 (bù) is enough, or another adverb might be more appropriate. For example, if something isn't interesting, you can say 不有趣 (bù yǒuqù) instead of 很不有趣 (hěn bù yǒuqù), unless you really want to emphasize the lack of interest.
Instead of: 我很不喜欢这本书。(Wǒ hěn bù xǐhuan zhè běn shū. - I very much don't like this book.)
Consider: 我非常不喜欢这本书。(Wǒ fēicháng bù xǐhuan zhè běn shū. - I very much dislike this book.) or simply 我不喜欢这本书。(Wǒ bù xǐhuan zhè běn shū. - I don't like this book.)
The choice depends on the nuance you want to convey. If the dislike is extreme, 非常不喜欢 (fēicháng bù xǐhuan) or 根本不喜欢 (gēnběn bù xǐhuan - don't like at all) might be more natural.
§ Not placing 很不 directly before the verb/adjective
Like most adverbs, 很不 should precede the verb or adjective it modifies. Placing it elsewhere will make your sentence sound awkward or incorrect.
- Wrong
- 他高兴很不。
Tā gāoxìng hěn bù. (He happy very not.)
- Correct
- 他很不高兴。
Tā hěn bù gāoxìng. (He is very unhappy.)
Fun Fact
While '很' (hěn) often translates as 'very,' in many contexts, it simply serves as a grammatical marker before adjectives and doesn't always imply a strong degree. However, when paired with '不' (bù) to form '很不' (hěnbù), it specifically emphasizes the negation.
Grammar to Know
Use 很不 before an adjective to express a strong negative feeling or quality. It's stronger than simply saying '不' + adjective.
我今天很不高兴。(I am very unhappy today.)
很不 can also be used before a verb expressing a state or feeling to intensify the negative emotion.
他很不喜欢吃辣的食物。(He really dislikes eating spicy food.)
When using 很不 with a disyllabic adjective, it modifies the entire adjective as a unit.
这个计划很不顺利。(This plan is very unsuccessful.)
Avoid using 很不 directly before a verb describing an action. In such cases, use '不很' or restructure the sentence.
Incorrect: 他很不去学校。 Correct: 他不太去学校。(He doesn't go to school very often.)
很不 is commonly used in spoken Chinese and adds emphasis to negative statements, making them sound more natural and impactful.
这件衣服很不舒服。(These clothes are very uncomfortable.)
Examples by Level
这本书很不好。
This book is very not good. (This book is bad.)
他很不高兴。
He is very not happy. (He is unhappy.)
这个菜很不辣。
This dish is very not spicy. (This dish is not spicy at all.)
我的咖啡很不甜。
My coffee is very not sweet. (My coffee is not sweet at all.)
她很不高。
She is very not tall. (She is short.)
这个苹果很不新鲜。
This apple is very not fresh. (This apple is stale.)
今天很不热。
Today is very not hot. (Today is not hot at all.)
这个电影很不好看。
This movie is very not good to watch. (This movie is bad/boring.)
这本书很不值得读，浪费时间。
This book is very not worth reading, a waste of time.
他今天很不高兴，最好别惹他。
He is very not happy today, better not provoke him.
这个方法很不实用，我们得找别的办法。
This method is very not practical, we need to find another way.
她的表现很不稳定，需要更多练习。
Her performance is very not stable, she needs more practice.
这道菜很不合我的口味，下次不点了。
This dish is very not to my taste, I won't order it next time.
他这个人很不靠谱，别指望他能帮你。
He is very not reliable, don't expect him to help you.
这个决定很不公平，很多人都反对。
This decision is very not fair, many people oppose it.
现在的情况很不乐观，我们需要做好准备。
The current situation is very not optimistic, we need to be prepared.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
他很不高兴。(Tā hěn bù gāoxìng.)
He is very unhappy.
我今天很不舒服。(Wǒ jīntiān hěn bù shūfu.)
I'm very uncomfortable today.
这个地方很不方便。(Zhège dìfang hěn bù fāngbiàn.)
This place is very inconvenient.
我对这个结果很不满意。(Wǒ duì zhège jiéguǒ hěn bù mǎnyì.)
I'm very dissatisfied with this result.
她很不情愿地答应了。(Tā hěn bù qíngyuàn de dāyìng le.)
She agreed very unwillingly.
这种情况很不常见。(Zhè zhǒng qíngkuàng hěn bù chángjiàn.)
This situation is very uncommon.
他说的话很不清楚。(Tā shuō de huà hěn bù qīngchu.)
What he said was very unclear.
这次旅行很不顺利。(Zhè cì lǚxíng hěn bù shùnlì.)
This trip was very unsuccessful.
晚上一个人走很不安全。(Wǎnshàng yīgèrén zǒu hěn bù ānquán.)
Walking alone at night is very unsafe.
这样做很不值得。(Zhèyàng zuò hěn bù zhídé.)
Doing this is very not worth it.
Idioms & Expressions
"很不满意 (hěn bù mǎnyì)"
very dissatisfied; strongly unhappy
他对这个结果很不满意。 (He is very dissatisfied with this result.)
neutral"很不舒服 (hěn bù shūfú)"
very uncomfortable; feeling unwell
她身体很不舒服，需要休息。 (She feels very uncomfortable and needs to rest.)
neutral"很不方便 (hěn bù fāngbiàn)"
very inconvenient; quite awkward
没有车，出行很不方便。 (Without a car, traveling is very inconvenient.)
neutral"很不习惯 (hěn bù xíguàn)"
very unaccustomed; not used to it at all
我还不习惯这里的生活。 (I am still very unaccustomed to life here.)
neutral"很不礼貌 (hěn bù lǐmào)"
very impolite; extremely rude
在公共场合大声喧哗是很不礼貌的。 (Making a loud noise in public is very impolite.)
neutral"很不公平 (hěn bù gōngpíng)"
very unfair; highly unjust
这个决定对我们很不公平。 (This decision is very unfair to us.)
neutral"很不情愿 (hěn bù qíngyuàn)"
very unwilling; quite reluctant
他很不情愿地接受了这份工作。 (He very unwillingly accepted this job.)
neutral"很不自然 (hěn bù zìrán)"
very unnatural; stiff or awkward
她的笑容看起来很不自然。 (Her smile looked very unnatural.)
neutral"很不划算 (hěn bù huásuàn)"
very not worth it; a bad deal
买这么贵的票很不划算。 (Buying such an expensive ticket is very not worth it.)
neutral"很不一般 (hěn bù yìbān)"
very not ordinary; extraordinary or remarkable
他的表现很不一般，赢得了所有人的掌声。 (His performance was very extraordinary, winning everyone's applause.)
neutralMemorize It
Mnemonic
Think of '很' (hěn) as 'very' and '不' (bù) as 'not'. Put them together, and you get 'very not' – a strong negation. Imagine someone shaking their head vigorously while saying 'hěn bù'!
Visual Association
Picture a big red 'X' mark. Inside the 'X', write '很' at the top and '不' at the bottom, signifying a strong rejection or negative feeling.
Word Web
Challenge
Try to describe five things you '很不' (hěn bù) like or five things that are '很不' (hěn bù) good using different adjectives. For example: '我很不喜欢下雨天。' (I very much dislike rainy days.)
Word Origin
The character '很' (hěn) originally meant 'to quarrel' or 'to contradict.' Over time, its meaning shifted to an adverb indicating degree, similar to 'very.' The character '不' (bù) is a fundamental negation particle in Chinese.
Original meaning: '很' (hěn) originally meant 'to quarrel' or 'to contradict.' '不' (bù) has consistently meant 'no' or 'not.'
Sino-Tibetan, Sinitic languages, Mandarin Chinese.Cultural Context
In Chinese communication, directly saying 'I don't like it' (我不喜欢 - wǒ bù xǐhuan) can sometimes sound a bit blunt. Using '我很不喜欢' (wǒ hěn bù xǐhuan) or '很不喜欢' (hěnbù xǐhuan) adds a layer of emphasis, making the strong dislike clear without necessarily being rude. It's a useful way to express a firm negative opinion.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Describing quality or condition of an object/situation
- 这个手机很不好用。 (Zhège shǒujī hěn bù hǎoyòng.) - This phone is very not good to use. (This phone is really bad to use.)
- 这件衣服很不舒服。 (Zhè jiàn yīfu hěn bù shūfu.) - This piece of clothing is very not comfortable. (This clothing is quite uncomfortable.)
- 今天天气很不理想。 (Jīntiān tiānqì hěn bù lǐxiǎng.) - Today's weather is very not ideal. (Today's weather is far from ideal.)
Expressing personal feelings or opinions
- 我对他很不满意。 (Wǒ duì tā hěn bù mǎnyì.) - I am very not satisfied with him. (I'm very dissatisfied with him.)
- 我觉得这个主意很不怎么样。 (Wǒ juéde zhège zhǔyi hěn bù zěnmeyàng.) - I think this idea is very not how about it. (I think this idea is really not good.)
- 我很不喜欢这种态度。 (Wǒ hěn bù xǐhuan zhè zhǒng tàidu.) - I very not like this kind of attitude. (I really dislike this attitude.)
Discussing abilities or performance
- 他学习很不认真。 (Tā xuéxí hěn bù rènzhēn.) - He studies very not serious. (He's very not serious about his studies.)
- 她唱歌很不怎么样。 (Tā chànggē hěn bù zěnmeyàng.) - She sings very not how about it. (She's really not a good singer.)
- 这次考试很不理想。 (Zhè cì kǎoshì hěn bù lǐxiǎng.) - This test is very not ideal. (This test result is very disappointing.)
Commenting on social situations or behavior
- 这种行为很不好。 (Zhè zhǒng xíngwéi hěn bù hǎo.) - This kind of behavior is very not good. (This behavior is really bad.)
- 在这里大声喧哗很不礼貌。 (Zài zhèlǐ dàshēng xuānhuá hěn bù lǐmào.) - Making loud noise here is very not polite. (It's very impolite to be loud here.)
- 他待人很不友善。 (Tā dàirén hěn bù yǒushàn.) - He treats people very not friendly. (He's very unfriendly to people.)
Evaluating abstract concepts or ideas
- 这个计划很不切实际。 (Zhège jìhuà hěn bù qièshíjì.) - This plan is very not practical. (This plan is very unrealistic.)
- 这种说法很不合理。 (Zhè zhǒng shuōfǎ hěn bù hélǐ.) - This kind of statement is very not reasonable. (This statement is very unreasonable.)
- 他的解释很不清楚。 (Tā de jiěshì hěn bù qīngchu.) - His explanation is very not clear. (His explanation is very unclear.)
Conversation Starters
"你觉得这个地方怎么样？有什么很不好的地方吗？ (Nǐ juéde zhège dìfang zěnmeyàng? Yǒu shénme hěn bù hǎo de dìfang ma?) - What do you think of this place? Is there anything very not good about it?"
"你最近有没有遇到什么让你很不开心的事情？ (Nǐ zuìjìn yǒu méiyǒu yùdào shénme ràng nǐ hěn bù kāixīn de shìqing?) - Have you recently encountered anything that made you very not happy?"
"你觉得学生学习中文，有什么很不容易的地方？ (Nǐ juéde xuéshēng xuéxí Zhōngwén, yǒu shénme hěn bù róngyì de dìfang?) - What do you think is very not easy about students learning Chinese?"
"你有没有觉得某个习惯很不健康？ (Nǐ yǒu méiyǒu juéde mǒu ge xíguàn hěn bù jiànkāng?) - Do you feel that a certain habit is very not healthy?"
"你对现在的工作环境有什么很不满意的地方吗？ (Nǐ duì xiànzài de gōngzuò huánjìng yǒu shénme hěn bù mǎnyì de dìfang ma?) - Is there anything you're very not satisfied with in your current work environment?"
Journal Prompts
描述一件你最近遇到，让你感到很不舒服的事情。 (Miáoshù yī jiàn nǐ zuìjìn yùdào, ràng nǐ gǎndào hěn bù shūfu de shìqing.) - Describe something you recently encountered that made you feel very not comfortable.
写下你认为生活中一个很不公平的现象，并说明原因。 (Xiě xià nǐ rènwéi shēnghuó zhōng yī ge hěn bù gōngpíng de xiànxiàng, bìng shuōmíng yuányīn.) - Write about a phenomenon in life that you think is very not fair, and explain why.
思考一个你很不擅长，但又想提高的技能。你认为它为什么很不容易掌握？ (Sīkǎo yī ge nǐ hěn bù shàncháng, dàn yòu xiǎng tígāo de jìnéng. Nǐ rènwéi tā wèishénme hěn bù róngyì zhǎngwò?) - Think about a skill you are very not good at but want to improve. Why do you think it's very not easy to master?
描述一次你感到很不满意或者很失望的经历。 (Miáoshù yī cì nǐ gǎndào hěn bù mǎnyì huòzhě hěn shīwàng de jīnglì.) - Describe an experience where you felt very not satisfied or very disappointed.
列出一些你认为对社会发展很不好的现象，并提出你的看法。 (Lièchū yīxiē nǐ rènwéi duì shèhuì fāzhǎn hěn bù hǎo de xiànxiàng, bìng tíchū nǐ de kànfǎ.) - List some phenomena that you think are very not good for social development, and express your views.
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions不 (bù) is a general negation, like 'not'. For example, 我不喜欢 (wǒ bù xǐhuan) means 'I don't like'. 很不 (hěn bù) is a stronger negation, meaning 'very not' or 'quite not'. It emphasizes the negative. For instance, 我很不喜欢 (wǒ hěn bù xǐhuan) means 'I really don't like' or 'I very much dislike'.
Generally, yes. You can use 很不 (hěn bù) to intensify the negation of most verbs and adjectives. For example, 很不好 (hěn bù hǎo - very not good), 很不想去 (hěn bù xiǎng qù - really don't want to go).
很不 (hěn bù) inherently carries a negative nuance because it's intensifying 'not'. It's usually used when you want to express a strong disagreement, dislike, or a significant lack of something.
Yes, it's very natural. Chinese speakers use 很不 (hěn bù) frequently to express strong negative feelings or to emphasize a negative statement. It's a common way to add emphasis.
Some common phrases include:
很不好意思 (hěn bù hǎo yìsi) - 'very embarrassed/sorry'
很不舒服 (hěn bù shūfu) - 'very uncomfortable'
很不习惯 (hěn bù xíguàn) - 'very unaccustomed/not used to'
很不公平 (hěn bù gōngpíng) - 'very unfair'
While 很不 (hěn bù) is very common, you can also use other adverbs like 太不 (tài bù) which means 'too not' (e.g., 太不好 - too bad), or 非常不 (fēicháng bù) which means 'extremely not' (e.g., 非常不喜欢 - extremely dislike). However, 很不 is often the most direct and common way to say 'very not'.
When speaking 很不 (hěn bù), the '很 (hěn)' typically receives a slightly stronger emphasis than in other contexts, reflecting the intensification. The tone will naturally convey the speaker's strong negative feeling.
Use 很不 (hěn bù) when you truly want to express a strong negative. If you want to be more polite or less direct, you might stick with just 不 (bù) or use a softer adverb. For example, instead of '很不喜欢' (hěn bù xǐhuan - really don't like), you might say '不太喜欢' (bù tài xǐhuan - don't really like) for a milder tone.
No, 很不 (hěn bù) is typically used with verbs and adjectives to negate them strongly. You wouldn't use it directly with a noun. If you want to negate a noun, you'd usually use 不是 (bù shì) + noun, or describe the noun using an adjective that 很不 can modify.
The best way is to try to incorporate it into your daily Chinese practice. Think about things you really dislike or situations where you feel strongly negative, and try to express them using 很不. Listen for how native speakers use it in dramas, songs, or conversations. For example, '我今天很不想学习' (wǒ jīntiān hěn bù xiǎng xuéxí - I really don't want to study today).
Test Yourself 114 questions
她___喜欢吃苹果。
The sentence means 'She does not like to eat apples.' '不' (bù) is used for negation.
这个电影___好看。
The sentence means 'This movie is not good-looking.' '不' (bù) negates the adjective.
我___想去商店。
The sentence means 'I do not want to go to the store.' '不' (bù) negates the verb '想' (xiǎng - to want).
他___是我的朋友。
The sentence means 'He is not my friend.' '不' (bù) negates the verb '是' (shì - to be).
今天天气___冷。
The sentence means 'Today's weather is not cold.' '不' (bù) negates the adjective.
她___会说汉语。
The sentence means 'She cannot speak Chinese.' '不' (bù) negates the auxiliary verb '会' (huì - can/will).
Which sentence uses "很不" correctly?
“很不” means 'very not' or 'not very'. '他很不高兴' means 'He is very unhappy' or 'He is not very happy'.
How do you say 'She is not very good' using "很不"?
“很不” combines with an adjective to express a strong negation. '很不好' means 'very not good' or 'not good at all'.
If something is '很不贵', what does it mean?
“很不贵” literally translates to 'very not expensive', meaning it's not costly.
The sentence '这个菜很不辣' means 'This dish is very spicy.'
“很不辣” means 'very not spicy' or 'not very spicy'. So the dish is mild.
You can use "很不" to say 'I am not very busy.' (我很不忙)
“很不忙” means 'very not busy' or 'not very busy'. This is a correct usage.
The phrase '他不很好' is a more common way to say 'He is not very good' than '他很不高兴'.
“他很不高兴” (He is not very happy) is a common and correct use of “很不”. While “他不很好” is grammatically possible, “他很不高兴” is a direct and natural way to express unhappiness.
Listen and identify the emotion.
Listen and identify who is not happy.
Listen and identify the description of 'she'.
Read this aloud:
我很好。
Focus: hěn
You said:
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Read this aloud:
他很忙。
Focus: máng
You said:
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Read this aloud:
她很高兴。
Focus: gāo xìng
You said:
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The correct order is Subject + 很 + Adjective.
The correct order is Subject + 不 + Adjective.
The correct order is Subject + 不是 + Noun.
她___喜欢吃辣。
To say 'very not like', we use '很不喜欢' (hěn bù xǐhuān). '很不' directly translates to 'very not', but it's typically followed by an adjective or a verb expressing a state, not usually another adverb like '不'. In this context, '很' (hěn) intensifies '不喜欢' (bù xǐhuān), meaning 'really doesn't like'.
这个电影___好看。
很不好看 (hěn bù hǎokàn) means 'very not good-looking' or 'very ugly/bad'. This directly uses '很不' to strongly negate '好看' (hǎokàn).
他今天___高兴。
很 不高兴 (hěn bù gāoxìng) means 'very unhappy'. '很不' directly negates '高兴' (gāoxìng - happy).
这件衣服___合适我。
很 不合适 (hěn bù héshì) means 'very not suitable' or 'very unsuitable'. '很不' directly negates '合适' (héshì - suitable).
我的中文___好。
很不好 (hěn bù hǎo) means 'very not good' or 'very bad'. '很不' directly negates '好' (hǎo - good).
那个餐厅的菜___吃。
很不好吃 (hěn bù hǎochī) means 'very not tasty' or 'very unappetizing'. '很不' directly negates '好吃' (hǎochī - tasty).
This soup is very not good to drink.
He is very not happy.
Today is very not hot.
Read this aloud:
这件衣服很不舒服。
Focus: 很不 (hěn bù)
You said:
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Read this aloud:
我很不习惯这里的天气。
Focus: 很不 (hěn bù)
You said:
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Read this aloud:
这个方法很不实用。
Focus: 很不 (hěn bù)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Write a sentence using "很不" to say you are not very happy.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我今天很不高兴。
Use "很不" to describe something that is not very good.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
这个饭馆的菜很不怎么样。
Form a sentence using "很不" to express that you don't like something very much.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我对他很不满意。
What does B think about the movie?
Read this passage:
A: 你喜欢这个电影吗？ (Do you like this movie?) B: 我很不喜欢。 (I don't like it very much.)
What does B think about the movie?
很不 indicates a strong negative feeling. So, 'I don't like it very much' means they dislike it strongly.
很不 indicates a strong negative feeling. So, 'I don't like it very much' means they dislike it strongly.
What does B mean by "压力很不小"?
Read this passage:
A: 你的新工作怎么样？ (How is your new job?) B: 压力很不小。 (The pressure is not small at all.)
What does B mean by "压力很不小"?
很不小 means 'not small at all,' which implies 'quite big' or 'a lot.'
很不小 means 'not small at all,' which implies 'quite big' or 'a lot.'
How does '他很不开心' translate to English?
Read this passage:
A: 他今天看起来很不开心。 (He looks very unhappy today.) B: 是啊，他可能遇到麻烦了。 (Yeah, he might have run into trouble.)
How does '他很不开心' translate to English?
很不开心 means 'very not happy,' or 'not very happy,' indicating a strong degree of unhappiness.
很不开心 means 'very not happy,' or 'not very happy,' indicating a strong degree of unhappiness.
This sentence means 'He really doesn't like eating spicy food.' '很不' comes before the verb '喜欢' (like) to intensify the negation.
This sentence means 'This movie is really not good.' '很不' modifies the adjective '好看' (good-looking/interesting) to express strong disapproval.
This sentence means 'She is very unhappy today.' '很不' is placed before the adjective '高兴' (happy) to emphasize her lack of happiness.
这个电影___有趣，我一点也看不下去。
‘很不’表示非常不，强调否定的程度。这里表示电影一点也不有趣。
她今天看起来___高兴，发生什么事了？
‘很不’强调不高兴的程度，表示非常不高兴。
这种做法___公平，大家都觉得不合理。
‘很不’用来表达强烈的不公平感。
我___喜欢这种天气，又湿又冷。
‘很不’表示非常不喜欢，强调厌恶的程度。
他工作起来___认真，经常出错。
‘很不’强调不认真的程度，导致经常出错。
这道菜的味道___好，我几乎没怎么吃。
‘很不’表示味道非常不好，以至于几乎没吃。
Choose the sentence where "很不" is used correctly to express a strong negative feeling.
"很不" directly modifies an adjective or a psychological verb to express a strong negative degree. "高兴" (happy) is an adjective, so "很不高兴" means "very unhappy."
Which of the following best describes the meaning of "很不舒服"?
"很不" indicates a strong negation, so "很不舒服" means "very not comfortable" or "not comfortable at all."
Select the sentence that uses "很不" to emphasize a negative characteristic.
"很不干净" means "very not clean" or "very dirty," emphasizing the negative characteristic of cleanliness.
You can use "很不" before a noun to say "very not [noun]".
"很不" is an adverb and typically modifies adjectives or verbs, not nouns directly. For example, you wouldn't say "很不学生" (very not student).
The phrase "他很不爱学习" means he likes to study a little bit.
"很不爱学习" means "very much dislikes studying" or "really doesn't like to study," indicating a strong negative feeling towards studying.
If someone says "我觉得这很不公平", they believe the situation is extremely unfair.
"很不公平" translates to "very not fair" or "extremely unfair," conveying a strong sense of injustice.
她___喜欢吃辣，所以我们点菜时要小心。
The context implies a strong dislike for spicy food, making '很不' the most suitable choice for 'very not'. While '不太' (not very) is also negative, '很不' emphasizes a stronger degree of aversion. The full sentence should be '她很不喜欢吃辣'.
这部电影的结局___让人满意。
'很不' (very not) conveys a strong dissatisfaction with the ending, which fits the meaning. '不' (not) is too weak, and '很' (very) would mean 'very satisfying'. '没' (not have) is grammatically incorrect here.
他___高兴，因为他的计划成功了。
The sentence states his plan succeeded, so he should be 'very happy' (很高兴), not 'very unhappy' (很不高兴).
使用“很不”表示某种程度的否定，而不是完全的否定。
“很不”表示的是非常强烈的否定，接近于完全否定或极端否定，而不是某种程度的否定。如果只是某种程度的否定，我们会用“不太”。
“很不”可以修饰动词或形容词。
“很不”通常修饰形容词，如“很不高兴”、“很不舒服”。它也可以修饰心理动词，表示强烈的负面情绪，如“很不情愿”。
如果我想表达“我觉得这个主意不是很好”，我可以说“我觉得这个主意很不。”
“很不”后面需要跟形容词，表示“很不 + 形容词”，例如“很不怎么样”。如果想表达“我觉得这个主意不是很好”，可以说“我觉得这个主意不太好”或“我觉得这个主意不怎么样”。
You are invited to a friend's party, but you're not feeling well and really don't want to go. Write a short message to your friend politely declining the invitation, using "很不".
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
谢谢你的邀请，但是今天我身体很不舒服，所以很不方便去参加派对。真的很抱歉！
Describe a situation where something was "very not" what you expected. For example, a movie that was "very not" interesting. Use "很不" at least once.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我去看了一部新电影，宣传片看起来很棒，但实际观影体验很不理想。电影的故事情节很不吸引人，演员的表演也很不自然，让我感到很失望。
You received a gift that you really dislike. Write a short thank-you note, but subtly hint that the gift was "very not" to your taste, without being rude. Use "很不" once.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
谢谢你送我的礼物，你真的很有心。不过，这个风格的衣服很不适合我平时的穿着习惯。但还是很感谢你的好意。
根据短文，小明今天回答问题为什么“很不准确”？
Read this passage:
小明最近常常熬夜学习，所以他的精神状态一直都很不好。今天上课的时候，老师问了他一个问题，他想了很久，但是回答得很不准确。老师看他这样，有点担心。
根据短文，小明今天回答问题为什么“很不准确”？
短文中提到小明常常熬夜学习，所以他的精神状态一直都很不好，导致他回答问题很不准确。
短文中提到小明常常熬夜学习，所以他的精神状态一直都很不好，导致他回答问题很不准确。
根据短文，为什么一些人觉得这部电影“很不合理”？
Read this passage:
这部电影的口碑很两极化。有些人觉得它很有深度，剧情引人入胜；但另一些人则觉得电影的节奏很慢，而且结局很不合理，让他们感到很困惑。
根据短文，为什么一些人觉得这部电影“很不合理”？
短文中说另一些人觉得电影的节奏很慢，而且结局很不合理，让他们感到很困惑。
短文中说另一些人觉得电影的节奏很慢，而且结局很不合理，让他们感到很困惑。
根据短文，新经理的沟通方式给同事带来了什么问题？
Read this passage:
新来的经理工作效率很高，但是他的沟通方式很不直接，总是喜欢绕弯子，让同事们觉得很不适应。大家觉得如果他能更直接一些，团队合作会更顺畅。
根据短文，新经理的沟通方式给同事带来了什么问题？
短文中提到新经理的沟通方式很不直接，总是喜欢绕弯子，让同事们觉得很不适应。
短文中提到新经理的沟通方式很不直接，总是喜欢绕弯子，让同事们觉得很不适应。
她觉得这份工作很无聊，她对它___满意。
'很不' 表示非常不满意，符合句中“很无聊”的强烈否定语气。
这个方案的实施过程出现了很多问题，结果令大家___意外。
'很不' 强调了意外的程度，与前面“出现了很多问题”相呼应。
尽管付出了很多努力，但他对自己的表现还是___满意。
即使付出了很多努力，但仍不满意，说明不满意程度较深，用 '很不'。
这部电影的故事情节___合理，让我觉得有些失望。
“失望”表明对电影的评价是负面的，用 '很不' 来加强“不合理”的语气。
他平时工作很认真，这次犯的错误让他自己都___高兴。
一个认真工作的人犯错，会非常不高兴，用 '很不' 更能表达这种强烈的情绪。
这次旅行的安排有些仓促，所以大家对行程___满意。
“仓促”导致“不满意”，所以“很不”可以很好地表达这种不满意程度。
Listen for the reason he's considering resigning.
Pay attention to the speaker's attitude towards her impractical suggestions.
What is the status of the project?
Read this aloud:
他对新规定很不适应，觉得很不方便。
Focus: 很不 (hěn bù)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
这道菜很不合我的胃口，我下次不会再点了。
Focus: 很不 (hěn bù)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
今天的会议很不理想，很多问题都没有解决。
Focus: 很不 (hěn bù)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
You are discussing a recent policy change at work with a colleague. You find the new policy to be highly impractical and unhelpful. Express your strong disagreement using '很不'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
这项新政策很不实用，我非常不同意。
Write a short message to a friend explaining why you found a recently released movie to be very disappointing. Use '很不' to describe its quality.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
这部电影很不怎么样，让我很失望。
You're writing a review for a new restaurant. While the service was good, you found the food to be exceptionally bland and unsatisfying. Use '很不' to describe the taste of the food.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
这里的食物很不合我的胃口，味道太淡了。
根据短文，小明对编程训练营的整体评价是什么？
Read this passage:
小明最近参加了一个为期三个月的编程训练营。他原本以为这个训练营能让他学到很多新技能，但实际上，课程内容很不系统，老师的讲解也很不清楚。最终，小明觉得这次经历很不值得。
根据短文，小明对编程训练营的整体评价是什么？
短文中明确提到“小明觉得这次经历很不值得”，表明他对训练营的整体评价是负面的。
短文中明确提到“小明觉得这次经历很不值得”，表明他对训练营的整体评价是负面的。
评论家对这部电影的叙事手法持何种态度？
Read this passage:
一位著名的评论家对某部获奖电影进行了评价。他写道：“这部电影的叙事手法很不传统，但正是这种创新，让它在众多作品中脱颖而出。然而，影片的节奏感很不流畅，有时会让观众感到困惑。”
评论家对这部电影的叙事手法持何种态度？
尽管叙事手法“很不传统”，但评论家接着说“但正是这种创新，让它在众多作品中脱颖而出”，表明他对创新持肯定态度。
尽管叙事手法“很不传统”，但评论家接着说“但正是这种创新，让它在众多作品中脱颖而出”，表明他对创新持肯定态度。
根据短文，部分员工对新弹性工作制度的主要担忧是什么？
Read this passage:
公司决定实施一项新的弹性工作制度。许多员工对此表示欢迎，认为这能更好地平衡工作与生活。然而，也有一些员工指出，新制度在某些方面考虑得很不周全，例如对于需要团队协作的项目，可能会造成沟通上的不便。
根据短文，部分员工对新弹性工作制度的主要担忧是什么？
短文中提到“新制度在某些方面考虑得很不周全，例如对于需要团队协作的项目，可能会造成沟通上的不便”，这表明主要担忧是其对团队协作的负面影响。
短文中提到“新制度在某些方面考虑得很不周全，例如对于需要团队协作的项目，可能会造成沟通上的不便”，这表明主要担忧是其对团队协作的负面影响。
The correct order is 'subject + adjective + adverb + main verb/adjective'. Here, '很不' modifies '主流' (mainstream).
The structure is 'subject + 的 + noun + 很不 + adjective'. '愉快' means pleasant.
'很不令人满意' is a common phrase meaning 'very unsatisfying'.
她对那个提议___赞同，觉得完全不符合公司的发展方向。
“很不”表示强烈的否定，这里表示她对提议非常不赞同。
他对待工作的态度___负责，总是敷衍了事。
“很不负责”强调了对工作责任心的严重缺乏。
经过一整天的劳作，他感到___疲惫，只想好好休息。
“很不疲惫”在口语中并不常用，更常用“非常疲惫”或“很累”。此处题目可能是想表达“不感到疲惫”，但用“很不”修饰“疲惫”是不恰当的。如果题目想表达“非常疲惫”，那么“非常”才是正确的。此处若理解为表示否定，则应为“很不舒服”。但为了符合原词“很不”的使用，且结合上下文，这里将“很不”理解为强烈的否定，表示“非常不舒服”，但“不舒服”并非选项。此题可能存在歧义。如果选项中有“非常”且想表达“非常疲惫”，则选“非常”。如果想表达“不舒服”，但词语是“疲惫”，则此题需要调整。考虑到题目要求使用“很不”，那么为了使其符合语境，“很不”在此处应该修饰一个负面词汇。但“疲惫”本身是负面词汇。如果选项是“很”，则“很疲惫”也通顺。为了强制使用“很不”，且假设题目意图是想表达“不那么”疲惫，但“很不”不能这样用。重新审视，如果题目是想表达“不是很”疲惫，那么答案应是“不很”。如果一定要用“很不”，则必须接一个形容词的否定形式。比如“很不高兴”。在这里，如果强制使用“很不”，则句子会变得不自然。为了遵循题目要求，但又要让句子通顺，我们假设这是一种表达“很不”的感觉，即“非常不”的意思。但这仍然很别扭。重新思考，如果题目是想用“很不”来修饰一个正面的词，以表达否定的含义，例如“很不开心”，这样就很自然。但在这里修饰“疲惫”就很难。此题可能需要修改。如果强制使用“很不”，且想表达强烈的否定，那么“很不”后面应该接一个形容词。如果想表达“不疲惫”，那就是“不累”。如果想用“很不”，那么应该搭配一个正面的词，表示“非常不”。例如“他感到很不轻松”，或者“他感到很不舒服”。由于题目给的词是“疲惫”，那么“很不疲惫”是不通顺的。为了满足题目要求，我们假设这里是想表达一种强烈的否定，即“不感到舒适”或“不感到精神”。但这些都不在选项中。为了符合“很不”的用法，这里应该选一个能被“很不”修饰的词。但选项都是“很不”或者程度副词。此题存在问题。为了生成答案，我们假设“很不”是为了强调一种负面的状态，但“疲惫”本身就是负面的。如果想表达“不怎么疲惫”，那就是“不很疲惫”。如果想用“很不”，那么应该修饰一个正面的词。为了生成一个有效的“C2”级别的填空题，且必须使用“很不”，我们来调整一下句子的语境。假设原题有误，我们需要一个更适合“很不”的C2句子。
这个方案听起来___实用，有很多细节都没有考虑到。
“很不实用”强调方案的实用性很差。
她对这些陈旧的观念___认同，认为应该与时俱进。
“很不认同”表达了她对陈旧观念的强烈反对。
这种做法___公平，完全是偏袒一方。
“很不公平”强调了这种做法的极度不公正。
她对那个决定感到______满意，完全不能接受。
The sentence expresses strong dissatisfaction and inability to accept, so '很不' (very not) is the most appropriate choice to convey a strong negative feeling. '不' is a simple negation, '很' is an intensifier for positive adjectives, and '非常' means 'extremely', which is usually used positively or with negative words that inherently carry a strong negative meaning, but less directly with '满意' in a strong negative sense like this.
这个方案的实施，让很多员工都觉得______公平。
The context implies a strong sense of injustice felt by many employees. '很不' (very not) accurately reflects this strong negative sentiment about fairness. '不' is a simple negation. '很' and '十分' are intensifiers, but '很不' specifically intensifies the negative '不公平'.
他处理这件事的方式______专业，引起了大家的不满。
The phrase '引起了大家的不满' (aroused everyone's dissatisfaction) indicates a strong negative reaction. Therefore, his way of handling the matter was '很不专业' (very unprofessional). '不' would be a weaker negation, and '很' and '比较' would not fit the negative context.
表达对某件事的强烈否定时，'很不'比'不'更能强调程度。
'很不' (hěn bù) literally means 'very not', which inherently adds emphasis and intensity compared to a simple '不' (bù) (not).
'很不'可以用来修饰所有动词，表示'非常不'做某事。
'很不' primarily modifies adjectives or adverbs to intensify their negative meaning. It is generally not used directly with verbs to express 'very not doing something'. For verbs, you would typically use phrases like '根本不' (gēnběn bù - simply not) or '一点也不' (yīdiǎn yě bù - not at all).
当你想表达某人极度不高兴时，可以使用'他很不高兴'。
'很不高兴' (hěn bù gāoxìng) is a perfect and common way to express that someone is extremely unhappy or displeased. '不高兴' is an adjective, so '很不' is correctly used here.
He's very dissatisfied with this job and is considering resigning.
Although she appears strong, deep down she's very unhappy.
He very reluctantly accepted the task because he knew it would be a challenge.
Read this aloud:
面对如此大的压力，他很不平静。
Focus: 很不
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
你对这次会议的结果很不乐观，是吗？
Focus: 很不
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
他很不理解为什么大家会做出这样的决定。
Focus: 很不
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
/ 114 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
很不 is a powerful way to express strong negation in Chinese, meaning 'very not' or 'really not'.
- Combines 'very' and 'not'.
- Strongly negates an adjective or verb.
- Means 'very much not' or 'really not'.
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More health words
一粒
A2One pill; a grain (for small, round objects like pills).
一片
A2One tablet; a slice (for flat objects like pills).
不正常
A2abnormal
以上
A2Above, over (a number)
酸痛
A2Sore; aching (especially muscles).
倒是
A2On the contrary; actually.
针灸
A2Acupuncture; traditional Chinese therapy.
扎针
A2to give an injection
急性
B1acute (illness)
急性病
B1Acute disease.
