1. Home
  2. Grammar Points
  3. Emphasizing negation with 又 ("you4")

Emphasizing negation with 又 ("you4")

又 yòu

Adverb
HSK 3

Structure

又 + 不 / 没 + Predicate

Definition

又（yòu）用于否定句中，加强否定语气，表示“根本就不是……”或“并没有……”，通常用来反驳或澄清对方的误解或假设。

The adverb 又 (yòu) is used in negative sentences to emphasize negation, meaning 'not... at all' or 'after all, not...'. It is often employed to counter a misunderstanding or assumption.

Usage

又常与“不”或“没”结合，构成“又不……”或“又没……”结构，放在动词或形容词前。强调某情况根本不成立或与对方预期相反。口语中常用。

又 is commonly combined with 不 or 没 to form '又不...' or '又没...' structures, placed before a verb or adjective. It emphasizes that a certain situation is not the case at all, or contradicts the listener's expectation. Frequently used in spoken Chinese.

Examples

  • 1 我又不是故意的，你别生气了。 (I didn't do it on purpose, don't be angry.)
  • 2 他日语又没学好，别让他翻译了。 (He didn't learn Japanese well anyway, don't ask him to translate.)
  • 3 你又没试过，怎么知道不行？ (You haven't even tried, how do you know it won't work?)
  • 4 我又不傻，怎么会相信那种话？ (I'm not stupid, why would I believe such words?)
  • 5 你又不会游泳，别去深水区。 (You can't swim anyway, don't go to the deep end.)

Put it into practice

Exam-style HSK drills with instant scoring and explanations.

Find my HSK level

Free · about 3 minutes · no account needed