non va bene
The Italian phrase for 'not good' is non va bene.
While non va bene can mean 'not good' in a general sense, it is most frequently used to express that a situation, a proposal or a behavior is unacceptable or inappropriate.
Which one should you use?
Use non va bene to mean something is unacceptable or doesn't work, but use non è buono if you are specifically referring to the taste of food or the quality of a physical object.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Sicilian dialect, the expression Nun è bbuono is used to signify that something is not good or is lacking in quality.
Did you know?
- While 'not good' in English can describe a bad-tasting meal, saying non va bene to a chef might actually sound like you are criticizing their professional conduct or the logic of the kitchen rather than the flavor.
- In Italy, a common gesture to accompany non va bene involves a slight shake of the head or a dismissive hand wave to emphasize that a proposal is out of the question.
- The verb in non va bene is 'andare', which means 'to go'. When you say it, you are literally saying that a situation 'does not go well' rather than saying it 'is' bad.
Examples in context
- Questo non va bene.This is not good.This sentence shows how to use non va bene to state that a specific thing is not good.Tatoeba #2412035 by Guybrush88, translation #1898098 by CK
- Lunedì non va bene.Monday's not good.This sentence demonstrates using non va bene to express that a specific day is not a good time.Tatoeba #11867745 by Guybrush88, translation #238872 by CK
- Non va bene svegliare un serpente che dorme.It's not good to wake a sleeping snake.This sentence provides a proverbial use of non va bene regarding a specific action.Tatoeba #13325272 by Guybrush88, translation #326641 by Dejo
- Non va bene che tu abbia dimenticato il mio compleanno.It's not good that you forgot my birthday.
- È un disastro totale! Questo servizio è davvero insoddisfacente!It's a total disaster! This service is really unsatisfactory!
- Mi spiace, ma ritengo che questo prodotto sia insufficiente per le nostre esigenze aziendali.I'm sorry, but I consider this product to be insufficient for our business needs.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Giulia are discussing a restaurant reservation.
- LorenzoPer me non va bene l'ora di cena.The dinner time is not good for me.
- GiuliaDavvero? Non va bene il posto?Really? Is the place not good?
- LorenzoNo, il posto è ok, ma l'orario non va bene.No, the place is ok, but the time is not good.
- GiuliaVa bene, cerchiamo un altro momento.Alright, let's look for another time.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
