否定的
fǒudìng de
The English word 'negative' can be translated into Chinese. The default form is 否定的 (fǒudìng de). Wiktionary also lists 消極 / 消极 (xiāojí).
Meaning: not positive or neutral, bad, undesirable, unfavourable (adj)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 否定的 | fǒudìng de |
| 消極 / 消极 | xiāojí |
否定的 is used for a response that is a denial, a rejection or a logical negation. If you are describing a person's pessimistic or passive attitude or a state of mind like being uncooperative, use 消极 or 消极. In mathematics, the single character 负 is used to denote a negative number or a negative value. For photography, the term for a negative is 底片.
What does it mean word for word?
In mathematics, the single character 负 is used to denote a negative quantity.
Which one should you use?
Use 否定的 when describing a response that is a denial, a rejection or a logical negation. Use 消极 when describing a person's negative attitude, lack of enthusiasm or passive behavior.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
fǒudìng de
Did you know?
- While English uses 'negative' for medical tests, Chinese uses 阴性 which means 'Yin nature'. This draws from the ancient philosophical concept of 阴 as the dark or passive principle.
- The term 消极 for a 'negative attitude' literally translates to 'extinguishing energy', suggesting that a negative person is someone whose spark or light is fading.
- In Chinese, the word for 'negative' in a mathematical context, 负, is the same character used to mean 'to owe' or 'to carry' a debt.
Examples in context
- 这个观点是否定的This viewpoint is negative.
- 他对生活持消极态度He has a negative attitude towards life.
- 他的回答非常不正面His response was very indirect.
- 不行No or That won't work
- 这个菜不好吃This dish is not tasty.
- 这种否定的态度对工作没有好处。Zhè zhǒng fǒudìng de tàidù duì gōngzuò méiyǒu hǎochù.This kind of negative attitude is not good for work.
- 他总是给出否定的回答。Tā zǒngshì gěichū fǒudìng de huídá.He always gives negative answers.
Example conversation
Two colleagues are discussing a project feedback session.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen你对这次反馈有什么看法？Nǐ duì zhè cì fǎnkuì yǒu shéme kànfǎ?What is your opinion on this feedback?
- 伟 Wei我收到了很多否定的意见。Wǒ shōudào le hěnduō fǒudìng de yìjiàn.I received a lot of negative opinions.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen伟，不要因此感到沮丧。Wěi, bùyào yīncǐ gǎndào jǔsàng.Wei, don't feel discouraged because of this.
- 伟 Wei我会努力改进的。Wǒ huì nǔlì gǎijìn de.I will work hard to improve.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “negative” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
