不用了
bù yòng le
The English phrase "nah" can be translated into Chinese as 不用了 (bù yòng le).
不用了 is used to say "no thanks" or "I'm good." It is the standard way to politely decline an offer of service, food or an item.
Meaning: no (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 不 (not), 用 (use/need) and 了 (a particle indicating a change of state), literally meaning "no longer need it".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
不用了 is a polite and standard way to decline an offer in most social situations, though it can also be used with friends. For more informal nuances, you might encounter other expressions: 不是呀 is a friendlier, informal way to say "no," while 才不是呢 is used for playful disagreement to emphasize the opposite of a statement, and 算了吧 is an informal way to dismiss a suggestion, conveying a casual "nah".
How does it change in a sentence?
The particle 了 at the end of 不用了 implies that while you might have needed something before, you do not need it now.
How do you pronounce it?
bù yòng le
Did you know?
- While 不用了 is the standard 'no thanks', in some social contexts, a direct 'no' can seem too blunt. People may instead use a 'soft' refusal by saying 'it is a bit inconvenient' to save the other person's 'face'.
- In some regions, people may repeat 不用不用 instead of saying 不用了. This repetition serves to make the refusal sound more polite and less abrupt.
- In many Chinese-speaking cultures, a polite refusal like 不用了 is often accompanied by a small, gentle wave of the hand in front of the face. This gesture reinforces the verbal 'no' without being aggressive.
Examples in context
- 这道题很简单吧？ – 才不是呢，我觉得很难。This question is easy, right? – Nah, I think it's difficult.
- 我们应该去跳舞吧！ – 算了吧，我真的不会跳舞。We should go dancing! – Nah, I really can't dance.
- 不用了，我饱了。Bú yòng le, wǒ bǎo le.Nah, I'm full.
- 不用了，谢谢你。Bú yòng le, xièxiè nǐ.Nah, thank you.
- 不用了，我还有很多。Bú yòng le, wǒ hái yǒu hěnduō.Nah, I still have plenty.
Example conversation
志强 offers 佳怡 more coffee in the office.
- 佳怡 Jiayi志强，要再喝点咖啡吗？Zhìqiáng, yào zài hē diǎn kāfēi ma?Zhiqiang, do you want some more coffee?
- 志强 Zhiqiang不用了，我已经喝了很多了。Bú yòng le, wǒ yǐjīng hē le hěnduō le.Nah, I've already had a lot.
- 佳怡 Jiayi那好吧，我再倒一杯。Nà hǎo ba, wǒ zài dào yì bēi.Alright then, I'll pour myself another cup.
- 志强 Zhiqiang麻烦你了。Máfan nǐ le.Thanks for the trouble.
