Chinese negative particles
Negative particles (否定语气词) are used to express the negation of an action, feature, or phenomenon.
How to use the negative particles in a sentence
In a sentence, negative particles usually come before the predicate. The predicate may be expressed by a verb or an adjective.
Scheme
negative particle
predicate
what to do?
Examples
我不是老师
I am not a teacher
wǒ bú shì lǎoshī
If an object with the preposition comes before the predicate, we should put the negative particle before the preposition.
For example, we put the negative particle before these prepositions:
把 
被
给
跟
被
给
跟 Scheme
subject
negative particle
preposition
object
predicate
Examples
她不跟我们一起去
She won't come with us
tā bù gēn wǒmen yìqǐ qù
How to use negative particles in declarative and imperative sentences
The most common negative particles are 不 , 没 and 没有 .
, 没 and 没有 .The particle 不
We use 不 when we speak use the present and future tenses of all verbs except the verb 有 and with word phrases beginning with 有.
For example: 有意思 , 有意识 .
and with word phrases beginning with 有.
For example: 有意思 , 有意识 .Examples
他不是我爸爸
He is not my father
tā bú shì wǒ bàba
Pay attention
The tone of the particle 不 can be changed.
Before words with a 4th tone, the particle 不 is stated with a 2nd tone:
不是
不要
不要 We can also use 不 when we speak about the past tense with:
1) modal verbs. For example:
可以
要
应该
要
应该 Examples
对不起，我不能接电话
Sorry, I couldn't answer the phone
duìbuqǐ, wǒ bù néng jiē diànhuà
2) verbs denoting emotions and feelings. For example:
爱
恨
怕
恨
怕 Examples
他从来不喜欢吵架
He never liked to quarrel
tā cónglái bù xǐhuan chǎojià
4) with verbs that do not denote an action. For example：
在
是
知道
是
知道 Examples
对不起，我不知道
Sorry, I didn't know
duìbuqǐ, wǒ bù zhīdào
Negative particles 没 and 没有
We should use the particle 没 before the verb 有 and with word phrases that begin with 有.
Examples
我没有钱
I have no money
wǒ méi yǒu qián
那本书没有意思
That book is not interesting
nà běn shū méi yǒuyìsi
Pay attention
In colloquial speech, 没+有 may be shortened to 没.
For example, 没钱 — "no money", 没意思 — "not interesting".
We also use 没 and 没有 when we speak about the past or with verbs denoting a completed action.
Pay attention
The exception is in the situations where only 不 is possible (see above).
Examples
他没有读完
He didn't finish reading
tā méiyǒu dúwán
我没去过美国
I have never been to America
wǒ méi qùguò měiguó
How to use particles in imperative sentences
To express prohibition, we should use negative particles such as 别 , 不要 , 不用 or the construction 别+verb+了.
There are different levels of prohibition. Let’s see them in descending order:
别......了(the most strict)
别......
不要......
不用...... (the most mildt)
, 不要 , 不用 or the construction 别+verb+了.
There are different levels of prohibition. Let’s see them in descending order:
别......了(the most strict)
别......
不要......
不用...... (the most mildt)Examples
别吵了！
Stop yelling!
bié chǎo le
别看我
Don't look at me!
bié kàn wǒ
请不要唱
Please don't sing
qǐng búyào chàng
你不用解释了，我知道
You don’t have to explain, I know
nǐ búyòng jiěshì le, wǒ zhīdao
Pay attention
In colloquial speech, we can use 甭 instead of 不用.
For example: 甭着急 .
instead of 不用.
For example: 甭着急 .