HSK1 Grammar: Negative particle "不" (bù)
Use this to: Use this to say “not” or “do not.”
1. Grammar Introduction
不 (bù) is the primary negative particle in Chinese, used to negate verbs, adjectives, and certain auxiliary verbs. It's equivalent to "not" or "don't" in English and is one of the most fundamental and frequently used characters in Chinese.
Subject + 不 + Verb/Adjective
Key Points:
- 不 is placed directly before the verb or adjective it negates.
- Unlike English, there's no need to change verb forms - 不 handles all the negation.
- 不 is normally pronounced in the 4th tone (bù), but changes to 2nd tone (bú) before another 4th tone character.
Usage Scenarios:
- Negating verbs: 我不吃 (wǒ bù chī) - I don't eat
- Negating adjectives: 不高 (bù gāo) - not tall
- Negating identity with 是: 我不是学生 (wǒ bú shì xuéshēng) - I am not a student
- Expressing refusal: 我不去 (wǒ bú qù) - I won't go
- Describing states: 不高兴 (bù gāoxìng) - not happy
2. Example Sentences
我不是学生。
我I
不not
是am
学生student
。
I am not a student.
他不叫王明。
他he
不not
叫called
王明Wang Ming
。
His name is not Wang Ming.
他们不是老师。
他们they
不not
是are
老师teacher
。
They are not teachers.
我不是中国人。
我I
不not
是am
中国人Chinese person
。
I am not Chinese.
我不喝茶。
我I
不not
喝drink
茶tea
。
I don't drink tea.
她不看书。
她she
不not
看read
书book
。
She doesn't read books.
他不喜欢猫。
他he
不not
喜欢like
猫cat
。
He doesn't like cats.
我们不去学校。
我们we
不not
去go
学校school
。
We don't go to school.
3. Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Sentence Ordering
Click the words to form correct sentences.
1. I am not Chinese.
2. I don't drink tea.
3. She doesn't read books.
4. He doesn't like cats.
5. We don't go to school.
Exercise 2: English to Chinese Translation
Translate the following sentences into Chinese. Use characters.
1. I am not a student.
2. His name is not Wang Ming.
3. They are not teachers.
4. I am not Chinese.
Exercise 3: Listening Practice
Listen to the audio. First 3 questions: write in Chinese. Remaining questions: translate to English.
1. Listen and write in Chinese:
2. Listen and write in Chinese:
3. Listen and write in Chinese:
4. Listen and translate to English:
5. Listen and translate to English:
6. Listen and translate to English:
4. Vocabulary List
🎯 Adverb
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 不 | bù | not, don't |
🎯 Verbs
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 是 | shì | to be, am/is/are |
| 叫 | jiào | to be called |
| 喝 | hē | to drink |
| 看 | kàn | to read, to look |
| 喜欢 | xǐhuān | to like |
| 去 | qù | to go |
📦 Nouns
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 学生 | xuéshēng | student |
| 老师 | lǎoshī | teacher |
| 中国人 | Zhōngguó rén | Chinese (people) |
| 茶 | chá | tea |
| 书 | shū | book |
| 学校 | xuéxiào | school |
| 猫 | māo | cat |
👤 Pronouns
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我 | wǒ | I, me |
| 他 | tā | he, him |
| 她 | tā | she, her |
| 我们 | wǒmen | we, us |
| 他们 | tāmen | they, them |
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ❌ Wrong: 我是不学生。
— 不 must go directly before 是 here.
✅ Correct: 我不是学生。
— I am not a student. - ❌ Wrong: 我不有书。
— Do not use 不 with 有 for “do not have.”
✅ Correct: 我没有书。
— I do not have books. - ❌ Wrong pronunciation: 不是（bù shì）。 — Before a fourth-tone word like 是, 不 changes to bú in pronunciation.
✅ Correct pronunciation: 不是。
— is not / am not / are not.
🎉 Great job on completing this lesson!
Practice these sentences daily to master the negative particle "不"
加油！(jiā yóu - Keep going!)