Giving an unclear answer in Chinese

Grammar Point:
This Chinese grammatical pattern expresses a negation related to an action or choice, often implying a lack of specific intention or avoiding giving a clear answer.

Note: When you use this pattern, it sometimes means you don’t want to share the information or you don’t think the listener needs to know. Depending on the situation, it can make the conversation quite awkward.

Structure

S + Neg + V + Question Words

我wǒ沒méi在zài看kàn什麼shénme我wǒ没méi在zài看kàn什么shénme
I’m not watching anything.

我wǒ昨天zuótiān沒méi跟gēn誰shéi出去chūqù我wǒ昨天zuótiān没méi跟gēn谁shéi出去chūqù
I really didn’t go out with anyone yesterday.

她tā沒méi給gěi我wǒ多少duōshǎo錢qián她tā没méi给gěi我wǒ多少duōshǎo钱qián
She didn’t give me much money.

我wǒ也yě不bù打算dǎsuàn跟gēn她tā去qù哪裡nǎlǐ我wǒ也yě不bù打算dǎsuàn跟gēn她tā去qù哪里nǎlǐ
I don’t plan to go anywhere with her either.

我wǒ跟gēn他tā沒有méiyǒu什麼shénme關係guānxī我wǒ跟gēn他tā没有méiyǒu什么shénme关系guānxi
I don’t really have any kind of relationship with him.

Compare them

她tā沒méi給gěi我wǒ多少duōshǎo錢qián她tā没méi给gěi我wǒ多少duōshǎo钱qián
She didn’t give me much money.
(She gave me some money, but it wasn’t a large enough amount for you to need to know the exact numbers.)

她tā沒méi給gěi我wǒ錢qián她tā没méi给gěi我wǒ钱qián
She didn’t give me money.
(I really got nothing.)

我wǒ跟gēn他tā沒有méiyǒu什麼shénme關係guānxī我wǒ跟gēn他tā没有méiyǒu什么shénme关系guānxi
I don’t really have any kind of relationship with him.
(We are just colleagues, no special relationship. There’s nothing you need to know.)

我wǒ跟gēn他tā沒有méiyǒu關係guānxī我wǒ跟gēn他tā没有méiyǒu关系guānxi
I have no relation to him.
(I don’t really know him.)