City University of Hong Kong CLASS CLASS
Making Sense of Grammar
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asked Nov 19, 2020 in Questions about Chinese Grammar by Mickey (7,360 points) | 162 views

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Although 不(bù) and 没(méi) serves to negate, they emphasize different aspect.

There are three functions of 不(bù):

1. To negate one’s willingness. For example,

1)我不想去学校

Wǒ   bùxiǎng               qù         xuéxiào

I          don’t want     go to     school

‘I don’t want to go to school.’

2. To negate one’s habit or things that usually happen. For example,

2)我不抽烟

Wǒ   bù        chōuyān

I      don’t   smoke

‘I don’t smoke.’

3. To negate people or things own the certain property and state. For example,

3) 他不高

Tā   bù  gāo

He  not  tall

‘He is not tall.’

There are two functions of 没(méi):

1. To negate the event is already happened. For example,

4) 他没参加会议

Tā     méi   cānjiā   huìyì

He   not   attend   conference

‘He didn’t attend the conference.’

2. To negate the change of the property or state. For example,

5) 他没胖

Tā   méi   pang

He   not    fat

‘He doesn’t become fat.’
answered Nov 19, 2020 by Mickey (7,360 points)

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1,613 questions
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