To say that something is not true, put 不 (bù) before the verb.
The rest of the sentence stays in the same order: Subject + 不 + Verb + Object.
This is the one word you need to say no to something — without it you can only agree, never disagree or correct someone.
Structure
Subject + 不 + Verb + Object
我喜欢茶。 (Wǒ xǐhuan chá.) I like tea. → 我不喜欢茶。 (Wǒ bù xǐhuan chá.) I do not like tea.
Examples
我不喜欢茶。 Wǒ bù xǐhuan chá.
Breakdown: 我 (I) · 不 (not) · 喜欢 (like) · 茶 (tea)
→ I do not like tea.
我不认识他。 Wǒ bú rènshi tā.
Breakdown: 我 (I) · 不 (not) · 认识 (know a person) · 他 (him)
→ I do not know him.
她不学习中文。 Tā bù xuéxí Zhōngwén.
Breakdown: 她 (she) · 不 (not) · 学习 (study) · 中文 (Chinese)
→ She does not study Chinese.
我不知道。 Wǒ bù zhīdào.
Breakdown: 我 (I) · 不 (not) · 知道 (know a fact)
→ I do not know.
我不是老师。 Wǒ bú shì lǎoshī.
Breakdown: 我 (I) · 不 (not) · 是 (am) · 老师 (teacher)
→ I am not a teacher.
他不会说中文。 Tā bú huì shuō Zhōngwén.
Breakdown: 他 (he) · 不 (not) · 会 (can/know how to) · 说 (speak) · 中文 (Chinese)
→ He cannot speak Chinese.
我不想喝茶。 Wǒ bù xiǎng hē chá.
Breakdown: 我 (I) · 不 (not) · 想 (want to) · 喝 (drink) · 茶 (tea)
→ I do not want to drink tea.
我不去。 Wǒ bú qù.
Breakdown: 我 (I) · 不 (not) · 去 (go)
→ I am not going.
她不来。 Tā bù lái.
Breakdown: 她 (she) · 不 (not) · 来 (come)
→ She is not coming.
你不对。 Nǐ bú duì.
Breakdown: 你 (you) · 不 (not) · 对 (correct/right)
→ You are not right.
Common Mistakes
Using 不 to negate 有
- Incorrect: 我不有水。 (Wǒ bù yǒu shuǐ.) - Correct: 我没有水。 (Wǒ méiyǒu shuǐ.) — I do not have water.
有 (have) is always negated with 没(有), never 不 — even though English "don't have" tempts you to say 不有.
Using 没 for a state or preference
- Incorrect: 我没喜欢茶。 (Wǒ méi xǐhuan chá.) - Correct: 我不喜欢茶。 (Wǒ bù xǐhuan chá.) — I do not like tea.
没 negates completed actions. 喜欢 is a state, not a completed action, so it takes 不.
What Can You Say Now?
You can now disagree, correct someone, or say that something is not the case — 我不喜欢茶 (I don't like tea), 我不是老师 (I'm not a teacher) — just by putting 不 right before the verb. Try describing your day out loud and negate one sentence with 不 to practice.
Quick Summary
Put 不 right before the verb: 我不喜欢茶。 = I do not like tea.
| Word |
|---|
|
不 - bu4 (Not; no) |
|
知道 - zhi1 dao4 (To know.) |
|
认识 - ren4 shi (To know; to recognize; to be familiar with.) |
|
喜欢 - xi3 huan (To like.) |
|
会 - hui4 (Can (know how to); will (likely to); to meet.) |
|
想 - xiang3 (To think; to want to; to miss (someone).) |
|
去 - qu4 (To go) |
|
来 - lai2 (To come) |
|
对 - dui4 (Correct, right; toward; facing.) |