我不是中国人
wǒ bù shì zhōngguórén
To say "I am not chinese" in Chinese, use 我不是中国人 (wǒ bù shì zhōngguórén).
This phrase is used to make a statement that your nationality is not Chinese.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 我不是中国人 is composed of 我 (I), 不 (not), 是 (am/is/are) and 中国人 (Chinese person).
How does it change in a sentence?
The negation is formed by placing 不 (bù) directly before the verb 是 (shì). The negative form of the verb 是 (shì) is always 不是 (bù shì).
How do you pronounce it?
wǒ bù shì zhōngguórén
Did you know?
- The word for 'China', 中国, literally translates to 'Middle Kingdom'. This reflects an ancient, historical worldview where China was perceived as the central civilization of the world.
- The character 不, meaning 'not', has different tones depending on the word that follows it. Even though it is written as bù, it often changes to 'bú' when placed before another fourth tone character like 是.
- The character 人 (rén) is a pictograph that originally looked like a profile of a person standing, one of the few characters that has remained visually similar to its original drawing for millennia.
Examples in context
- 我不是中国人，我是日本人。Wǒ bú shì Zhōngguórén, wǒ shì Rìběnrén.I am not Chinese, I am Japanese.
- 很抱歉，我不是中国人。Hěn bàoqiàn, wǒ bú shì Zhōngguórén.I'm sorry, I am not Chinese.
- 虽然我在这里工作，但我不是中国人。Suīrán wǒ zài zhèlǐ gōngzuò, dàn wǒ bú shì Zhōngguórén.Although I work here, I am not Chinese.
Example conversation
A traveler clarifies their nationality at a hotel reception.
- 志强 Zhiqiang请问，你是中国人吗？Qǐngwèn, nǐ shì Zhōngguórén ma?Excuse me, are you Chinese?
- 晓雯 Xiaowen不，我不是中国人。Bù, wǒ bú shì Zhōngguórén.No, I am not Chinese.
- 志强 Zhiqiang哦，那你是哪国人？Ò, nà nǐ shì nǎ guó rén?Oh, then what is your nationality?
- 晓雯 Xiaowen我是韩国人。Wǒ shì Hánguórén.I am Korean.
