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  3. Expressing "not very" with 不太 ("bùtài")

Expressing "not very" with 不太 ("bùtài")

太 tài

Adverbs with adjectives
HSK 2

Structure

Subj. + 不太 + Adj. Subj. + 不太 + Verb

Translations

  • says something is not very much so

Definition

表示程度不高，相当于“不是很……”或“不那么……”。

Indicates a low degree, equivalent to 'not very' or 'not too'.

Usage

放在形容词或动词前，表示否定程度较低，语气较委婉。

Placed before adjectives or verbs to express a mild negation, indicating that something is not very or not too.

Examples

  • 1 这个苹果不太甜。 (This apple is not very sweet.)
  • 2 我今天不太舒服。 (I'm not feeling very well today.)
  • 3 他不太喜欢游泳。 (He doesn't really like swimming.)
  • 4 这条路不太远。 (This road is not too far.)
  • 5 她不太会说中文。 (She can't speak Chinese very well.)
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