Negation in Chinese Language

不 bù (= not)

不 bù is used with the following verbs for past, present and future: adjective-verbs, stative verbs, modal verbs.

Adjective Verb

我	不	大	。
wǒ	bú	dà	_
I	not	big	_
I, me, my	no, not, after negative question: yes	big, old, main	。
I am not big.

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Stative Verb

我	不	是	老	师	。
wǒ	bú	shì	lǎo	shī	_
I	not	be	old	teacher	_
I, me, my	no, not, after negative question: yes	to be, correct, yes	teacher		。
I am not a teacher.

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Modal Verb

我	不	回	去	。
wǒ	bù	huí	qù	_
I	not	return	go	_
I, me, my	no, not, after negative question: yes	go back		。
I don't go back.

Listen:

If one negates an action-verb, 不 bù can only be used for present and future tense. For the past tense one must use 没 méi (= not).

Action Verb

我	不	去	。
wǒ	bú	qù	_
I	not	go	_
I, me, my	no, not, after negative question: yes	go to, pass away, remove	。
I dont go.

Listen: