27 negating information
27.1 Negation of verbs and verb phrases
The words that are used to negate verbs and verb phrases in Mandarin are 不 bù and 没/沒 méi.
不 bù and 没/沒 méi immediately precede the verb or anything that precedes and modifies the
verb, including an adverb, a location phrase, or any other prepositional phrase.
他不喝酒。[negation + verb]
Tā bù hē jiǔ.
He doesn’t drink (alcohol).他不一定考得好。[negation + adverb]
Tā bù yīdìng kǎodehǎo.
It is not certain that he will do well on the exam. (He may not do well on the exam.)
他不在家吃饭。[negation + location prepositional phrase]
他不在家吃飯。
Tā bù zài jiā chī fàn.
He doesn’t eat at home.她没跟弟弟说话。[negation + prepositional phrase]
她沒跟弟弟說話。
Tā méi gēn dìdi shuō huà.
She didn’t speak with younger brother.
In addition to the primary role of 不 bù and 没/沒 méi as markers of negation, they often serve
to identify the aspect and time frame of events.C10.1, 11.1, 12, 13.3, 17, 37.327.1.1 不 bù
不 bù is the marker of negation for:- adjectival verbs, stative verbs, and modal verbs
妹妹不高。(adjectival verb)
Mèimei bù gāo.
Younger sister is not tall.
我不喜欢他。(stative verb)
我不喜歡他。
Wǒ bù xǐhuan tā.
I don’t like him.十六岁的孩子不可以喝酒。(modal verb)
十六歲的孩子不可以喝酒。
Shíliù suì de háizi bù kéyǐ hē jiǔ.
16-year-old children are not allowed to drink.