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Today, we're diving into the distinction between 不 (bù) and 没 (méi), both of which convey "no; not" in English. Join Chinese Surfing as we refine your Chinese skills and strive for perfection!
First, let's check the sentences as follows:
不 + V / adj:
Tā bú qù Shàng hǎi. Tā bú shòu.
他不去（verb）上海。他不瘦（adj）。
没+ V / adj：
Tā méi qù Shàng hǎi . Tā méi shòu .
他没去（verb）上海。他没瘦（adj）。
First, 不 and 没 are both adverbs, which can be followed by verbs or adjectives.
★ 没 is mainly negate objective facts, which is often used in the past and present tense.
For instance:
① Wǒ zuótiān méi lái xuéxiào。
我昨天没来学校。（in the past）
I didn't come to school yesterday.
② Zhège diànnǎo méi huài.
这个电脑没坏。(in the present)
This cell phone is not broken.
★ 不 negates subjective wills and feelings, which can be used in the past, present, and future tense.
For example:
① Wǒ zuótiān bù shūfú, suǒyǐ wǒ qǐngjià le.
我昨天不舒服，所以我请假了。
（In the past）
I didn't feel well yesterday, so I asked for leave.
② Wǒ xiàn zài bú è.
我现在不饿。（in the present）
I'm not hungry now.
③ Wǒ míng tiān bú qù xué xiào.
我明天不去学校。(in the future)
I won't go to school tomorrow.
★ 不 also used to negate an habitual action. for example:
① Tā zhǐ chī shūcài, bù chī ròu.
他只吃蔬菜，不吃肉。
He only eats vegetables and does not eat meat.
② Tā bù chōuyān, bù hējiǔ.
他不抽烟，不喝酒。
He doesn't smoke or drink.
不/没 can be followed by modal verbs or mental verbs, but
★ 没 only goes with a limited number of modal verbs and mental verbs, for example:
没+ 能néng / 敢gǎn /想xiǎng.... its always in the past events.
① Wǒ méi néng bāng tā.
我没能帮他。
I couldn’t help him.
② Wǒ méi xiǎng bāng tā.
我没想帮他。
I didn't want to help him.
★ 不 can be followed by all modal verbs and mental verbs.
① Tā bú huì kāichē.
他不会开车。
He can't drive.
② Wǒ bù xǐhuan kàndiànshì 。
我 不 喜欢看电视。
I don't like watching TV.
③ Wǒ jīntiān bù xiǎng chī jiǎozi.
我今天不想吃饺子。
I don't want to eat dumplings today.
④ Nǐ bù yīnggāi hē tài duō.
你 不 应该 喝太多。
You shouldn't drink too much.
※ Tips:
modal verbs: 能néng、可以kě yǐ、会huì、可能kě néng、要yào、应该yīng gāi .....
mental verbs: 喜欢xǐ huan、爱ài 、恨hèn、想xiǎng、害怕hài pà......
★ To negate the verb “有yǒu”，you can only use 没méi as没有méi yǒu 。
① Wǒ yǒu gēge 。--wǒ méiyǒu gēge.
我有哥哥。-- 我没有哥哥。
★ To negate the verb 是shì ， you can only use 不bú as不是bú shì：
② Wǒ shì lǎoshī 。-- wǒ búshì lǎoshī.
我是老师。--我不是老师。
★ 没 only can be followed by a few adjectives, and negate the change of a situation.
① Tā de bìng háiméi hǎo.
她的病还没好。
She is not well yet.
② Hǎojiǔ bú jiàn, nǐ méipàng yě méishòu, hé yǐqián yīyàng.
好久不见，你没胖也没瘦, 和以前一样。
Long time no see, you look the same as before. ( neither gain or lose weight.)
But.......
★ 不 can be followed by most adjectives to negate the state of somebody or something. For example:
① Tā de dìdi bù gāo 。
他的弟弟不高。
His younger brother is not tall.
② Zhèjiàn yīfu bú hǎokàn 。
这件衣服不好看。
This cloth is not quite nice.
★ 没+ Noun： to indicate “don’t have”。
Tā méiqián mǎi xīn shǒujī.
他没钱买新手机。
He has no money to buy a new phone.
★ 不+Noun：never！×
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