Standard Negation with “Bu” in Chinese Grammar

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

Introduction:
不 (bù) is a fundamental element in Chinese grammar used for negating verbs and adjectives. Understanding its usage is essential for effective communication in Chinese.

Negating Verbs

Structure:
The standard way to negate verbs in Chinese is with 不 (bù). To negate a verb, simply place 不 (bù) before it:

Subj. + 不 + Verb + Obj.

Examples:

1. 他们不是坏孩子。
   • Tāmen bù shì huài háizi.
   • They are not bad kids.
2. 我们不喝酒。
   • Wǒmen bù hējiǔ.
   • We don’t drink alcohol.
3. 我今天不想工作。
   • Wǒ jīntiān bù xiǎng gōngzuò.
   • I don’t want to work today.

Exception:
The only verb that cannot be negated with 不 (bù) is 有 (yǒu), which requires 没有 (méiyǒu) for negation.

Example:

我不有时间。

Wǒ bù yǒu shíjiān.

我没有时间。

Wǒ méiyǒu shíjiān.

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.
2. 这个不贵。
   • Zhège bù guì.
   • This is not expensive.
3. 公司不大。
   • Gōngsī bù dà.
   • The company is not big.

Explanation:
不 (bù) is used to express negation for both verbs and adjectives. It’s a versatile tool in Chinese grammar for conveying a wide range of meanings.