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  3. Comparing 不 ("bù") and 没 ("méi")

Comparing 不 ("bù") and 没 ("méi")

不 bù

Grammar
HSK 2

Structure

Subj. + 不 + Verb Subj. + 不 + Verb + Obj. 不 + Adj. Subj. + Verb + 不 + Verb + Obj. Subj. + 没(有) + Verb + Obj. Subj. + 没有 + Obj. Noun 1 + 没有 + Noun 2 + Adj.

Translations

  • which negation to use, 不 or 没

Definition

比较“不”和“没”的用法。'不'用于否定主观意愿、习惯、状态或一般事实；'没'用于否定客观事实、完成或曾经发生的事件。

Comparison of '不' and '没'. '不' is used to negate subjective will, habits, states, or general truths; '没' is used to negate objective facts, completion, or past events.

Usage

'不'一般放在动词或形容词前，表示否定意愿、习惯、状态等，如'我不去'。'没'表示否定动作的发生或状态的完成，后面一般跟名词或动词，如'我没吃饭'。注意：'没'不能用于否定一般真理或习惯。

'不' is placed before verbs or adjectives to negate willingness, habits, states, etc., e.g., 'I don't go'. '没' indicates negation of occurrence or completion of an action, usually followed by a noun or verb, e.g., 'I haven't eaten'. Note: '没' cannot negate general truths or habits.

Examples

  • 1 他不喜欢喝茶。 (He doesn't like to drink tea.)
  • 2 我没看那部电影。 (I haven't seen that movie.)
  • 3 她不是医生。 (She is not a doctor.)
  • 4 昨天他没来上课。 (He didn't come to class yesterday.)
  • 5 我不吃辣。 (I don't eat spicy food.)
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