不 (bù) is generally used to negate a verb in the
present or future, or to talk about what you do not do, as a habit. So
expressing things like "I don't want to go" or "I'm not
going" or "I don't eat meat" would be typical uses of 不 (bù).
Negating Verbs
Structure
The standard way to negate verbs in Chinese is with 不 (bù).
To negate a verb, simply place 不 (bù) before it:
Subj. + 不 + Verb + Obj.
Examples
他们 不 是 坏 孩子。
Tāmen bù shì huài háizi.
They are not bad
kids.
我们 都 不 喝 酒。
Wǒmen
dōu bù hē jiǔ.
We all don't drink alcohol.
我 今天 不 想 工作。
Wǒ jīntiān bù xiǎng gōngzuò.
I don't want to
work today.
你 不 喜欢 我 吗？
Nǐ bù xǐhuan wǒ ma?
Do you not like me?
为什么 你 不 喜欢 喝 咖啡？
Wèishéme nǐ bù xǐhuan hē kāfēi?
Why
don't you like to drink coffee?
Almost all verbs can be negated with 不 (bù) (unless
you're talking about the past). The only verb that can never be negated with 不 (bù)
is 有
(yǒu).
✖ 我 不有 时间。
Wǒ bù
yǒu shíjiān.
✔ 我 没有 时间。
Wǒ méiyǒu shíjiān.
I
don't have time.
Negating Adjectives
As it turns out, the structure with an adjective is
basically the same as the one with a verb.
Structure
Subj. + 不 + Adj.
Examples
我 不 饿。
Wǒ bù è.
I'm
not hungry.
这 个 不 贵。
Zhè ge bù guì.
This
is not expensive.
我们 公司 不 大。
Wǒmen
gōngsī bù dà.
Our company is not big.
老板 今天 很 不 高兴。
Lǎobǎn
jīntiān hěn bù gāoxìng .
The boss is very unhappy today.
我 哥哥 不 高，但是 很 帅。
Wǒ
gēge bù gāo , dànshì hěn shuài.
My older brother is not tall, but
he is very handsome.
