HSK 1 grammar · new HSK syllabus
不: not
不 negates habits, wishes, the present and the future: 我不喝茶.
Structure
- 不 + verb / adjective
How it works
不 goes before a verb or adjective to make it negative. Use it for habits (我不喝咖啡), likes and wishes (我不想去), descriptions (不贵), and plans (明天我不去).
不 is also the negative of 是 and of modal verbs such as 会, 能 and 想.
For something that did not happen in the past, use 没 instead. For 有, always use 没有.
Tone note: 不 is read bú before a fourth-tone syllable: 不是 (bú shì), 不去 (bú qù).
Examples
-
我不喝茶。
Wǒ bù hē chá.
I don’t drink tea.
-
这个不贵。
Zhège bú guì.
This isn’t expensive.
-
明天我不去学校。
Míngtiān wǒ bú qù xuéxiào.
I’m not going to school tomorrow.
-
他不想吃饭。
Tā bù xiǎng chī fàn.
He doesn’t want to eat.
-
我不认识她。
Wǒ bú rènshi tā.
I don’t know her.
Words in these examples (15)
| 我 | wǒ | I; me | HSK 1 |
| 不 | bù | not; no | HSK 1 |
| 喝 | hē | to drink | HSK 1 |
| 茶 | chá | tea | HSK 1 |
| 这个 | zhège | this one | HSK 1 |
| 贵 | guì | expensive | HSK 1 |
| 明天 | míngtiān | tomorrow | HSK 1 |
| 去 | qù | to go | HSK 1 |
| 学校 | xuéxiào | school | HSK 1 |
| 他 | tā | he; him | HSK 1 |
| 想 | xiǎng | to want to; to think; to miss | HSK 1 |
| 吃 | chī | to eat | HSK 1 |
| 饭 | fàn | meal; cooked rice | HSK 1 |
| 认识 | rènshi | to know (someone); to recognize | HSK 1 |
| 她 | tā | she; her | HSK 1 |
Common mistakes
-
✗昨天我不去学校。
✓昨天我没去学校。
For a past event that didn’t happen, use 没.
-
✗我很不有时间。
✓我没有时间。
有 takes 没, not 不.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 我 喜欢吃米饭。
2. 明天他 来。
3. 这件衣服 漂亮。