Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 不 | bù | |
| 否 | fǒu | |
| 沒有 / 没有 | méiyǒu | |
| 沒 / 没 | méi | past |
The word 'no' is primarily used as a particle to show disagreement or negation. Unlike in English, where 'no' can be a standalone answer to a question, Chinese often requires repeating the verb or using a specific phrase to express negation. For example, 没有 literally means 'don't have' and can be used to express a negative response in informal conversations. Additionally, among friends, the phrase 不要 is commonly used to mean 'don't want' or 'don't need'. Other related forms include 沒有 / 没有 and 沒 / 没 to mean 'not any', and 不是 to mean 'not' or 'not properly'.
Which one should you use?
The choice between forms depends on the time and type of negation. The particle 不 is used to negate present or future actions, states or intentions. In contrast, 没 is used to negate past actions or the existence of something. While 不 can negate an adjective, such as 'not good', 没有 is used to negate the possession of an object or the occurrence of an event.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form 否 is a formal or literary way to express negation, often seen in classical Chinese or formal written documents.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The tone of 不 changes depending on the tone of the following word: it is usually fourth tone (bù), but becomes second tone (bú) before another fourth tone word.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization for 不 is bù.
Did you know?
- Some scholars believe the character 不 originally depicted a bird flying toward the sky. Because the sky is a limit the bird cannot pass, it became a symbol for negation.
Examples in context
- 好久不见了。Long time, no see.This sentence shows the use of 不 in the phrase 'Long time, no see'.Tatoeba #710777 by Yashanti, translation #417003 by CK
- 时间不等人。Time waits for no one.This sentence shows the use of 不 in the phrase 'Time waits for no one'.Tatoeba #3367336 by go_oo, translation #1744302 by belgavox
- 不，我不懂。No, I don't understand.This sentence shows the use of 不 in the phrase 'No, I don't understand'.Tatoeba #4761451 by billt_estates, translation #1468397 by AMIKEMA
- 你能帮我一个忙吗？ (Nǐ néng bāng wǒ yīgè máng ma?)Can you help me with something?
- 不好意思，我现在有点忙。 (Bù hǎo yìsi, wǒ xiànzài yǒudiǎn máng.)I'm sorry, but I'm a bit busy right now.
- 明天去看电影？ (Míngtiān qù kàn diànyǐng?)Want to go watch a movie tomorrow?
- 不要了，我有其他安排。 (Bù yàole, wǒ yǒu qítā ānpái.)No, I have other plans.
- 497 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Haoran and Jiayi are deciding what to eat for lunch.
- 浩然 Haoran我们要吃面条吗？Wǒmen yào chī miàntiáo ma?Do we want to eat noodles?
- 佳怡 Jiayi不，我想吃米饭。Bù, wǒ xiǎng chī mǐfàn.No, I want to eat rice.
- 浩然 Haoran那我们去吃米饭吧。Nà wǒmen qù chī mǐfàn ba.Then let's go eat rice.
- 佳怡 Jiayi好，走吧。Hǎo, zǒu ba.Okay, let's go.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “no” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 不, 否, 沒, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
