不的否定

A1 — 副词

Negation with 不 (bù) for habitual actions, states, and adjectives

I can negate statements about habits, states, and descriptions using 不

Examples

我不喝咖啡。 — I don't drink coffee.
他不是老师。 — He is not a teacher.
这个不贵。 — This is not expensive.

副词A1

Negation with 不

Negation with 不 (bù) for habitual actions, states, and adjectives

Learning Goal

I can negate statements about habits, states, and descriptions using 不

Exam Skills:HSK 1 ReadingHSK 1 Writing

Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?

我不喝咖啡。

I don't drink coffee.

他不是老师。

He is not a teacher.

这个不贵。

This is not expensive.

Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?

不的否定 — Negation with 不

不 (bù) negates present/future actions, habitual states, and adjectives. Place 不 directly before the verb or adjective.

Positive	Negative	Meaning
我是学生 wǒ shì xuéshēng	我不是学生 wǒ bú shì xuéshēng	I am / am not a student
她喝茶 tā hē chá	她不喝茶 tā bù hē chá	She drinks / doesn't drink tea
他很忙 tā hěn máng	他不忙 tā bù máng	He is / isn't busy

Tone change: 不 is normally 4th tone (bù), but before another 4th tone it becomes 2nd tone: 不是 (búshì), 不去 (búqù).

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

Practice Exercises

Learners confuse 不 and 没. Use 不 for present/future and habitual negation, 没 for past events and 有. 🇬🇧 English speakers: English uses 'don't/doesn't/isn't' — Chinese simply inserts 不 before the verb. No auxiliary needed.

Common Error Patterns

Used 不 where 没 is required (past actions, 有)

不 for present/future/habitual. 没 for past completed actions and with 有: 没有 (not 不有)

Wrong tone on 不 before 4th tone syllable

不 changes to 2nd tone (bú) before 4th tone: 不是 (búshì), 不去 (búqù)

我不喝咖啡。

I don't drink coffee.

我不喝咖啡 (wǒ bù hē kāfēi) — 不 goes directly before the verb 喝. This expresses a habitual state.

他不是老师。

He is not a teacher.

他不是老师 (tā bú shì lǎoshī) — 不 before 是. Note the tone change: 不 → bú before 4th-tone 是.

这个不贵。

This is not expensive.

这个不贵 (zhè gè bú guì) — 不 directly before adjective 贵 (guì). No 很 needed in negative sentences.

Practice in course

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

A1 Course

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Put it into practice

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4. Work and professions

Frequently asked questions

When is 不的否定 used?: 不 (bù) negates present/future actions, habitual states, and adjectives. Place 不 directly before the verb or adjective.
How is 不的否定 formed?: Tone change: 不 is normally 4th tone (bù), but before another 4th tone it becomes 2nd tone: 不是 (búshì), 不去 (búqù).
What are common mistakes with 不的否定?: Learners confuse 不 and 没. Use 不 for present/future and habitual negation, 没 for past events and 有. 🇬🇧 English speakers: English uses 'don't/doesn't/isn't' — Chinese simply inserts 不 before the verb. No auxiliary needed. 🇩🇪 German speakers: German uses 'nicht/kein' with different positions. Chinese 不 always goes directly before the verb/adjective. 🇷🇺 Russian speakers: Russian не (ne) works similarly to 不 — placement before the verb. Good transfer! 🇨🇿 Czech speakers: Czech ne- attaches as a prefix (nemluvím). Chinese 不 is a separate word before the verb.

Positive

Negative

Meaning

我是学生 wǒ shì xuéshēng

我不是学生 wǒ bú shì xuéshēng

I am / am not a student

她喝茶 tā hē chá

她不喝茶 tā bù hē chá

She drinks / doesn't drink tea

他很忙 tā hěn máng

他不忙 tā bù máng

He is / isn't busy

Frequently asked questions

When is 不的否定 used?

不 (bù) negates present/future actions, habitual states, and adjectives. Place 不 directly before the verb or adjective.

How is 不的否定 formed?

Tone change: 不 is normally 4th tone (bù), but before another 4th tone it becomes 2nd tone: 不是 (búshì), 不去 (búqù).

What are common mistakes with 不的否定?

Learners confuse 不 and 没. Use 不 for present/future and habitual negation, 没 for past events and 有. 🇬🇧 English speakers: English uses 'don't/doesn't/isn't' — Chinese simply inserts 不 before the verb. No auxiliary needed. 🇩🇪 German speakers: German uses 'nicht/kein' with different positions. Chinese 不 always goes directly before the verb/adjective. 🇷🇺 Russian speakers: Russian не (ne) works similarly to 不 — placement before the verb. Good transfer! 🇨🇿 Czech speakers: Czech ne- attaches as a prefix (nemluvím). Chinese 不 is a separate word before the verb.