In Chinese, “不” (bù) and “没” (méi) are both used to express negation, but they are used in different situations. Let’s explore how each is used and look at some examples.
不 （bù）
（一）Using 不 to refuse present actions
We can use 不 to state that an action is not happening because we do not want to do it.
Subject + 不 + verb
- 我不吃。你自己吃吧。
(wǒ bùchī. nǐzìjǐ chī ba.) I’m not eating. You can eat it yourself.
2. 我不去，因为我现在很忙。
(wǒ bú qù, yīnwèi wǒ xiànzài hěn máng.) I’m not going, because I’m very busy at the moment.
3. 他从来不吸烟。
(tā cóngláibù xīyān.) He never smokes.
When used with verbs that convey an emotional state (mental verbs) it means the opposite is true.
4. 她不喜欢吃蛋糕。
(tā bù xǐhuan chī dàngāo.) She doesn’t like to eat cake.
5. 我们不想做作业。
(wǒmen bùxiǎng zuò zuòyè.) We don’t want to do homework.
6. 我不同意。
(wǒ bùtóngyì.) I don’t agree.
（二）Using 不 as “don’t” for habitual actions
We can use 不 to express that we do are not used to doing something.
Subject + 不 + verb + object
1. 我不喝咖啡。
(wǒ bù hē kāfēi.) I don’t drink coffee.
2. 妹妹不吃肉。
(mèimei bùchī ròu.) My little sister doesn’t eat meat.
（三）Using 不 as “will not” for future actions
We can use 不 for indicating that we do not intend to do something or something will not happen in the future.
Subject + 不 + verb
1. 她明天不上课。
(tā míngtiān bú shàngkè.) She will not have class tomorrow.
2. 我这个星期五不上班。
(wǒ zhège xīngqīwǔ bú shàngbān.) I don’t have to go to work this Friday.
3. 我不去，因为我周末有事。
(wǒ bú qù, yīnwèi wǒ zhōumò yǒushì.) I’m not going because I have plans for the weekend.
（四）Using 不 to ask yes/no questions
We can use 不 to ask yes/no questions about the present actions, habitual actions, or future plans.
Subject + verb + 不 + verb + object？
1. 我买了一个披萨。你吃不吃？
(wǒ mǎi le yīgè pīsà. nǐ chī bùchī?) I bought a pizza. Would you like some?
2. 你喝不喝咖啡？
(nǐ hē bù hē kāfēi?) Do you want to drink some coffee?
3. 我们周末去看电影，你去不去？
(wǒmen zhōumò qù kàndiànyǐng, nǐ qù bú qù?) We’re going to the movies this weekend. Are you coming?
See if you can find the answers to these questions in the previous sections.
（五）Using 不 to negate adjectives
We almost always pair 不 with adjectives to simple mean “not”. (There are a few rare exceptions where 没 is used instead to demonstrate that a state has changed, and you would need to say “didn’t”.)
Subject + 不 + Adjective
1. 这本书不贵。
(zhèběn shū bú guì.) This book is not expensive.
2. 这件衬衣很不舒服。
(zhèjiàn chènyī hěnbù shūfu.) This shirt is uncomfortable.
3. 这个包子不好吃。
(zhège bāozi bùhǎo chī.) This steamed bun doesn’t taste good.
没 (méi)
（一）Using 没 as “didn’t” to deny accusations of past actions
We can use 没 to deny that we did actions in the past.
Subject + 没 + verb + object
1. 我没看到。
(wǒ méi kàndào.) I didn’t see it.
2. 我们没去。
(wǒmen méi qù.) We didn’t go.
3. 我没吃你的蛋糕。
(wǒ méi chī nǐde dàngāo.) I didn’t eat your cake.
（二）Using 没 to mean something has not happened yet
We can use 没 to mean “didn’t” or “haven’t yet” for actions that we think are supposed to happen but have not yet been done. You can add “还” if you want to emphasize that you think it should have been done by now.
Subject + 没 + verb + object
1. 我刚起床，没吃早饭。
(wǒ gāng qǐchuáng, méi chī zǎofàn.) I just woke up and haven’t eaten breakfast yet.
2. 我吃完了，但是（还）没付钱。
(wǒ chī wánle, dànshì( hái) méi fùqián.) I just finished eating, but I haven’t paid yet.
3. 我还没写作业。
(wǒ hái méi xiězuò yè.) I haven’t done my homework yet.
Question form:
If we wanted to ask whether or not someone did something yet, we could use the following structure.
subject + verb + 没 + verb + obj？
4. 你今天吃没吃早饭？
(nǐ jīntiān chī méi chī zǎofàn?) Did you eat breakfast today?
5. 你付没付钱？
(nǐ fù méi fùqián?)Did you pay [yet]?
6. 你写没写作业？
(nǐ xiě méi xiězuò yè?) Have you done your homework?
（三）Using 没 with 过 to mean something was not experienced
We can use 没 to negate sentences with 过 which talk about past experiences.
Subject + 没 + verb + 过 + object
1. 我没去过中国。
(wǒ méi qùguò zhōngguó.)I haven’t been to China.
2. 我没学过日语。
(wǒ méixué guò rìyǔ.) I haven’t studied Japanese.
Question form:
To ask whether or not someone has had a particular experience, we use the following structure.
Subject + verb + 没 + verb + 过 + object？
3. 你去没去过中国？
(nǐ qù méi qùguò zhōngguó?) Have you been to China?
4. 你学没学过日语？
(nǐ xué méi xué guò rìyǔ?) Have you studied Japanese?
Check your understanding
Based on the context of the sentence or dialogue, decide whether to use 不 or 没 to fill in the blank.