Saying 'Not' in Chinese: 不 (bù) vs 没 (méi)

English has one "not". Mandarin has two main negatives, and choosing between them is one of the first grammar decisions a learner faces. Fortunately, the rule is simple.

不 (bù): general negation

Use 不 for:

• Habits and general facts: 我不喝咖啡。 (Wǒ bù hē kāfēi.) — I don't drink coffee.
• The future: 明天我不去。 (Míngtiān wǒ bú qù.) — I'm not going tomorrow.
• Preferences and opinions: 我不喜欢。 (Wǒ bù xǐhuan.) — I don't like it.
• With 是: 他不是老师。 (Tā bú shì lǎoshī.) — He is not a teacher.
• With adjectives: 这个不贵。 (Zhège bú guì.) — This isn't expensive.

没 (méi) or 没有: negating completion

Use 没(有) for:

• Past actions that did not happen: 我昨天没去。 (Wǒ zuótiān méi qù.) — I didn't go yesterday.
• Not having something: 我没有钱。 (Wǒ méiyǒu qián.) — I don't have money.
• Something hasn't happened yet: 他还没来。 (Tā hái méi lái.) — He hasn't come yet.

Note that you drop 了 when you use 没: 我没买。, not 我没买了。

有 always takes 没

The verb 有 (yǒu, have) is negated only with 没: 没有. You never say 不有.

Comparing the two

• 我不去。 — I'm not going (a decision or general statement).
• 我没去。 — I didn't go (it didn't happen).

Tone change with 不

不 becomes bú before a fourth tone: 不是 (bú shì), 不对 (bú duì), 不要 (bú yào).

Negative commands

Use 别 (bié) or 不要 (búyào) for "don't":

• 别走！ (Bié zǒu!) — Don't go!
• 不要说话。 (Búyào shuōhuà.) — Don't talk.

Other negative words

• 没关系 (méi guānxi) — it doesn't matter, no problem
• 不客气 (bú kèqi) — you're welcome
• 不好意思 (bù hǎoyìsi) — sorry, excuse me
• 不用 (búyòng) — no need
• 从来不 / 从来没 (cónglái bù / cónglái méi) — never (habit / experience)

A quick test

Ask yourself: "Is this about something that did or did not happen, or about having?" If yes, use 没. Otherwise, use 不.

Common mistakes

• Using 不 for past events.
• Using 没 with 是: not 没是.
• Using both 没 and 了.

Practice

1. Write ten negative sentences, alternating 不 and 没.
2. Convert each into a positive version.
3. Practise 别 and 不要 for commands.
4. Look up example sentences in a dictionary.

Look up negative expressions with English Chinese Dictionary →