Chinese phrases
How to say no in Chinese
Chinese has no single word for no. You put 不 (bù) before the verb of the question: 不去, “not going.” For facts, say 不是 or 不对.
不
no; not
Ways to say no
不是
Everydayno, it isn’t
For questions with 是, and to correct a fact.
不对
Everydaythat’s not right
To say a statement is wrong.
没有
Everydayno (I don’t have; I didn’t)
For questions with 有, and about the past: 你去了吗? 没有.
不要
Everydayno, I don’t want it
In shops and markets. Said firmly, it ends the conversation.
不用了
Everydayno, thank you
The polite no: to a waiter offering more tea, a seller, a friend who wants to pay. Add 谢谢.
不行
Everydayno way; that won’t work
Firm: you can’t or won’t allow it.
Common mistakes
A bare 不
不 alone is curt. Add the verb, as in 不去 or 不要, or soften it: 不用了，谢谢.
Using 不 for the past
For things that didn’t happen, use 没: 我没去 is “I didn’t go.” 我不去 is “I won’t go.”
bù before a fourth tone
不 becomes bú before a fourth tone: bú shì, bú yào, bú duì.
At a market stall
要袋子吗？
Stall owner: Want a bag?
不用了，谢谢。
Leon: No, thanks.
好嘞。
Stall owner: Sure thing.
