HSK 1
Correct

不 vs 没

/ bù vs méi / 
Strokes

Definition

Both 不 (bù) and 没 (méi) are 否定副词 (Adverbs of Negation), but they are used in different contexts and follow different grammatical rules. Here’s a detailed breakdown:

 

1. 不 (bù) – General Negation (Subjective, Habitual, or Future)

 

Usage:

  • Negates subjective will, habitual actions, general truths, or future events.
  • Used for present, future, or habitual actions.
  • Can negate verbs, adjectives, and modal verbs (能, 可以, 应该, etc.).

 

Examples:

1.1 Negating Verbs (Subjective/Habitual):

  • 我不喜欢咖啡。 (Wǒ bù xǐhuan kāfēi.) – "I don’t like coffee." (General dislike)
  • 他不吃肉。 (Tā bù chī ròu.) – "He doesn’t eat meat." (Habitual action)

 

1.2 Negating Adjectives (Describing States):

  • 这本书不贵。 (Zhè běn shū bù guì.) – "This book isn’t expensive."
  • 她不高兴。 (Tā bù gāoxìng.) – "She isn’t happy."

 

1.3 Negating Future Actions:

  • 明天我不去上班。 (Míngtiān wǒ bù qù shàngbān.) – "I won’t go to work tomorrow."

 

1.4 Negating Modal Verbs (Ability/Permission):

  • 我不能去。 (Wǒ bù néng qù.) – "I can’t go."
  • 你不应该迟到。 (Nǐ bù yīnggāi chídào.) – "You shouldn’t be late."

 

2. 没 (méi) – Objective Negation (Past, Facts, or Non-Completion)

 

Usage:

  • Negates past actions, objective facts, or incomplete actions.
  • Used for past events or actions that didn’t happen.
  • Only negates action verbs and 有 (yǒu, "have").
  • Cannot negate adjectives or modal verbs (e.g., 能, 可以, 应该).

 

Examples:

2.1 Negating Past Actions:

  • 昨天我没去学校。 (Zuótiān wǒ méi qù xuéxiào.) – "I didn’t go to school yesterday."
  • 他没吃早饭。 (Tā méi chī zǎofàn.) – "He didn’t eat breakfast."

 

2.2 Negating 有 (yǒu, "have"):

  • 我没有钱。 (Wǒ méi yǒu qián.) – "I don’t have money."
  • 他没有女朋友。 (Tā méi yǒu nǚ péngyou.) – "He doesn’t have a girlfriend."

 

2.3 Negating Completion (没 + Verb + 过/了):

  • 我没看过这部电影。 (Wǒ méi kàn guò zhè bù diànyǐng.) – "I haven’t watched this movie."
  • 他还没写完作业。 (Tā hái méi xiě wán zuòyè.) – "He hasn’t finished his homework yet."

 

3. Key Differences Summary

Feature不 (bù)没 (méi)
Time FramePresent, future, habitualPast, incomplete actions
NegatesVerbs, adjectives, modal verbsOnly action verbs & 有 (yǒu)
Subjective vs. ObjectiveSubjective (opinions, habits)Objective (facts, past events)
Example"I don’t like coffee.""I didn’t go yesterday."

 

Final Summary

  • Use 不 (bù) for subjective, habitual, or future negation.
  • Use 没 (méi) for past actions, objective facts, or negation of 有 (yǒu).

Example

没 is often used for a past event, 不 is often used for a future event.
没 is often used for a past event and collocates with words like 昨天, 去年, 上星期, 三年前, etc.
不 is often used for a future event and collocates with words like 明天, 以后, 将来, 下个星期, etc.
1
Wǒ
我
shànggèyuè
上个月
méi
没
qù
去
běijīng
北京
  
。

I didn't go to Beijing last month.

2
Wǒ
我
xià
下
gè
个
yuè
月
bù
不
qù
去
běijīng
北京
  
。

I won't go to Beijing next month.

不 is used to negate something subjective, such as 不想, 不愿意 or 不要. In contrast, 没 is used to negate something objective.
3
A
A
  
:
xiǎoxī
小希
  
,
zhōngwǔ
中午
wǒmen
我们
yīqǐ
一起
chīfàn
吃饭
bā
吧
  
。
B
B
  
:
wǒ
我
jīntiān
今天
yáténg
牙疼
  
,
bù
不
xiǎng
想
chī
吃
wǔfàn
午饭
  
。

A: Xiaoxi, let' have lunch together ! B: I have a toothache today, I don't want to have lunch.

4
A
A
  
:
xiǎoyáng
小杨
  
,
nǐ
你
chī
吃
wǔfàn
午饭
le
了
ma
吗
  
?
B
B
  
:
tài
太
máng
忙
le
了
  
,
méi
没
chī
吃
ne
呢
  
。

A: Xiaoyang, did you have lunch? B : I'm too busy, I didn't have lunch.

Only 不 is used to negate something that happens on a regular or habitual basis, only 没 is used to negate the continuation of an action or a state.
5
Tā
他
cónglái
从来
bù
不
chídào
迟到
  
。

He is never late.

6
Gēge
哥哥
méi
没
tīng
听
yīnyuè
音乐
  
,
tā
他
zài
在
xuéxí
学习
hànyǔ
汉语
ne
呢
  
。

Brother didn't listen to music. He is learning Chinese now.

The collocations 不知道, 不清楚, 不会, 不应该, 不是, etc. are often used to indicate somebody's capability, will or judgment.
7
Zhè
这
bú
不
shi
是
wǒ
我
de
的
shū
书
  
。

This is not my book.

8
Tā
他
bùhuì
不会
yóuyǒng
游泳
  
。

He can't swim.

Only 没 is used to negate the verb 有, 不 cannot be used to replace 没 in this case.
9
Wǒ
我
méiyǒu
没有
gēge
哥哥
  
。

I don't have brothers.

10
Wǒ
我
méiyǒu
没有
hěnduō
很多
qián
钱
  
。

I don't have a lot of money.

不 and 没 both can be used to negate existence.
11
Tā
他
zuótiān
昨天
bù
不
  
(
méi
没
  
)
zàijiā
在家
  
。

He was not at home yesterday.

12
Túshūguǎn
图书馆
bù
不
  
(
méi
没
  
)
zài
在
nàbian
那边
  
。

The library is not over there.

Mistake

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Wrong: 我不有车。 (Wǒ bù yǒu chē.) 

✅ Correct: 我没有车。 (Wǒ méi yǒu chē.) 

 

❌ Wrong: 他没喜欢我。 (Tā méi xǐhuan wǒ.)

✅ Correct: 他不喜欢我。 (Tā bù xǐhuan wǒ.)

Exercise

Practice Sentences

 

Choose 不 or 没:

  • 我昨天____去超市。 (méi – past action)
  • 他____喜欢吃辣。 (bù – habitual dislike)
  • 我们____有足够的时间。 (méi – negation of "have")
  • 明天____下雨。 (bù – future negation)

Translate:

  • "She didn’t call me yesterday." → 她昨天____给我打电话。 (méi)
  • "I don’t want to go." → 我____想去。 (bù)