Emphasizing a negation - 並 / 并 bìng

Table of Contents

Grammar Point:
In Chinese, the word 並并 bìng is used to emphasize a negation. It’s often used in conjunction with negative words like 不 bù or 沒 méi to strengthen the negative meaning.

Structure

People use 並并 bìng to indicate that what they are saying is contrary to what the addressee assumes or expects. It adds a sense of certainty to the negation, making it clear that the statement is absolutely not true or the action did not happen.

S + 並并 bìng + 不 or 没

他tā並bìng不是búshì這樣zhèyàng想xiǎng的de他tā并bìng不是búshì这样zhèyàng想xiǎng的de
He definitely doesn’t think that way.

我wǒ並bìng不bù喜歡xǐhuān吃chī辣là的de食物shíwù我wǒ并bìng不bù喜欢xǐhuan吃chī辣là的de食物shíwù
I actually don‘t like spicy food at all.

這zhè並bìng不是búshì我wǒ想要xiǎngyào的de禮物lǐwù这zhè并bìng不是búshì我wǒ想要xiǎngyào的de礼物lǐwù
This is definitely not the gift I wanted.

爸爸bàba並bìng沒有méiyǒu給gěi我wǒ錢qián爸爸bàba并bìng没有méiyǒu给gěi我wǒ钱qián
Dad definitely did not give me money.

中國Zhōngguó賣mài的de台灣烤腸Táiwānkǎocháng在zài台灣Táiwān並bìng不bù存在cúnzài中国Zhōngguó卖mài的de台湾烤肠Táiwānkǎocháng在zài台湾Táiwān并bìng不bù存在cúnzài
The Taiwanese sausages sold in China, they actually don’t exist in Taiwan.

我wǒ哥哥gēge並bìng沒有méiyǒu去qù過guò上海shànghǎi我wǒ哥哥gēge并bìng没有méiyǒu去qù过guò上海shànghǎi
My older brother actually hasn’t been to Shanghai.

我wǒ並bìng不覺得bùjuéde他tā在zài開玩笑kāiwánxiào我wǒ并bìng不觉得bùjuéde他tā在zài开玩笑kāiwánxiào
Actually, I don’t think he’s joking.

Let’s Compare the Following Sentences

我wǒ不bù喜歡xǐhuān吃chī辣là的de食物shíwù我wǒ不bù喜欢xǐhuan吃chī辣là的de食物shíwù
I don‘t like spicy food.
(It’s a straightforward expression of not liking spicy food without any particular emphasis.)

我wǒ並bìng不bù喜歡xǐhuān吃chī辣là的de食物shíwù我wǒ并bìng不bù喜欢xǐhuan吃chī辣là的de食物shíwù
I actually don‘t like spicy food at all.
(You want to assert a fact that is contrary to a possible misconception.)

並并 bìng VS 根本 gēnběn

Both 並并 bìng and 根本 gēnběn can be used to emphasize negation, 根本 gēnběn carries a stronger and more absolute sense of contradiction or disbelief compared to 並 bìng, which implies a milder contrast. The choice between them depends on the level of emphasis you want to convey in a given context.

他tā不是búshì壞人huàirén他tā不是búshì坏人huàirén

This sentence simply states, “He is not a bad person.”
It provides a straightforward negation of the idea that he is a bad person without any additional emphasis or contrast.

他tā並bìng不是búshì壞人huàirén他tā并bìng不是búshì坏人huàirén

This sentence adds the adverb 並 bìng to slightly emphasize the negation.
It can be translated as “He is not, in fact, a bad person” or “Contrary to what you might think, he is not a bad person.”
The use of 並 bìng adds a bit of contrast or unexpectedness to the statement, but it’s still relatively mild.

他tā根本gēnběn不是búshì壞人huàirén他tā根本gēnběn不是búshì坏人huàirén

This sentence uses 根本 gēnběn, which adds a stronger level of emphasis and negation.
It can be translated as “He is absolutely not a bad person” or “He is not a bad person at all.”
根本 gēnběn emphasizes that there is no doubt or ambiguity in the negation and can convey a sense of disbelief in any suggestion to the contrary.