不 / 没【bù / méi】

bu vs mei, negation, not, didn't, haven't, can't, not yet, which negative, bu, mei

Picks the negator by what is being denied: 不 for habits, states, wishes and plans, 没 for events that did not happen. 。 is "I did not catch that"; 。 is "I cannot understand".

HSK 4

AI-generated

Structure

不 + [verb / adjective / modal verb]

没 + [verb] + (complement)

[verb] + 不 + [complement]

还没 + [adjective / verb]

Description

不 denies that something is so, is done, or will be. 没 denies that something happened.

。

I don't drink coffee.

。

I haven't had any coffee today.

Results: didn't, or can't

A verb with a result complement – 懂, 完, 到, 见 – takes 没 in front for "didn't manage it this time", and 不 in the middle for "can't". Where the negator stands changes the meaning.

。

I didn't catch that.

。

I can't understand Shanghainese.

。

I didn't finish my homework.

× 我不听懂 → 我没听懂 / 我听不懂

Adjectives: a state, or a change

不 + adjective describes a state: it isn't so. 没 + adjective, usually with 还, says a change hasn't happened yet.

。

This top isn't clean.

。

The clothes aren't dry yet.

Past habits take 不

A habit takes 不 even in the past. 没 would report one occasion that didn't happen.

。

He didn't use to drink.

。

He didn't drink yesterday.

Modals take 不: 不能, 不会, 不想, 不应该. A few also take 没 for a single past occasion: 没能 "didn't manage to", 没敢 "didn't dare", and the set phrase 没想到 "didn't expect".

。

He can't swim.

。

I didn't manage to go yesterday.

× 他没会游泳 → 他不会游泳

Verbs of being and knowing

是, 知道, 姓 and 像 describe a state, not an event, and take 不 whatever the time.

× 我没知道 → 我不知道
× 他以前没是老师 → 他以前不是老师

Examples

。