Standard Negation with “Bu” in Chinese Grammar

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

Introduction:
不 (bù) is a fundamental element in Chinese grammar used to express negation. It is typically used to negate verbs in the present or future tense, describing actions, habits, preferences, and denying or refusing something.

Negating Verbs

Structure:
The standard structure for negating verbs in Chinese is by using 不 (bù). Place 不 (bù) before the verb:

Subj. + 不 + Verb + Obj.

Examples:

1. 他们不是坏孩子。
   • Tāmen bù shì huài háizi.
   • They are not bad kids.
   • वे बुरे बच्चे नहीं हैं।
2. 我们不喝酒。
   • Wǒmen bù hējiǔ.
   • We don’t drink alcohol.
   • हम शराब नहीं पीते।
3. 我今天不想工作。
   • Wǒ jīntiān bù xiǎng gōngzuò.
   • I don’t want to work today.
   • मुझे आज काम करने का मन नहीं है।

Exception: The verb 有 (yǒu) cannot be negated with 不 (bù).

Negating Adjectives

Structure:
Negating adjectives follows a similar structure to negating verbs:

Subj. + 不 + Adj.

Examples:

1. 我不饿。
   • Wǒ bù è.
   • I’m not hungry.
   • मुझे भूख नहीं है।
2. 这个不贵。
   • Zhège bù guì.
   • This is not expensive.
   • यह महंगा नहीं है।
3. 公司不大。
   • Gōngsī bù dà.
   • The company is not big.
   • कंपनी बड़ी नहीं है।

Conclusion:
Using 不 (bù) is crucial for expressing negation in Chinese. It’s versatile and applies to both verbs and adjectives. However, remember the exception with the verb 有 (yǒu), which requires 没有 (méiyǒu) for negation.