不 bù and its tone changes

Grammar Point:
The phrase 不 bù in Chinese is typically used to negate a statement, similar to how “not” is used in English.

Structure

不 + Adjective

加拿大jiānádà的de夏天xiàtiān不bú熱rè加拿大jiānádà的de夏天xiàtiān不bú热rè
The summers in Canada are not hot.

我wǒ家jiā不bú大dà我wǒ家jiā不bú大dà
My house is not big.

我wǒ不bù矮ǎi、 不bú胖pàng、 不bú笨bèn也yě不bù醜chǒu我wǒ不bù矮ǎi、 不bú胖pàng、 不bú笨bèn也yě不bù丑chǒu
I am not short, not fat, not stupid, and also not ugly.

小貓xiǎomāo不bù開心kāixīn小猫xiǎomāo不bù开心kāixīn
The kitten is not happy.

我wǒ做zuò的de飯fàn不bù好吃hǎochī我wǒ做zuò的de饭fàn不bù好吃hǎochī
The food I made is not delicious.

那個nàge不bú貴guì嗎ma？ 那个nàge不bú贵guì吗ma？
That is not expensive？

不 + Verb

不 bù is commonly used to negate an action that a person does not want or intend to take. It pertains to your decision rather than an objective fact.

我wǒ今天jīntiān不bù吃chī晚飯wǎnfàn我wǒ今天jīntiān不bù吃chī晚饭wǎnfàn
I am not going to have dinner tonight. (Your decision)

你nǐ昨天zuótiān為什麼wèishénme不bù跟gēn我wǒ說話shuōhuà你nǐ昨天zuótiān为什么wèishénme不bù跟gēn我wǒ说话shuōhuà
Why didn’t you talk to me yesterday? (I know you did it on purpose.)

我wǒ不bù喝酒hējiǔ我wǒ不bù喝酒hējiǔ
I don’t drink. (Your decision)

我wǒ不bù喜歡xǐhuān唱歌chànggē我wǒ不bù喜欢xǐhuan唱歌chànggē
I don’t like to sing.

他tā不bú要yào學xué中文zhōngwén他tā不bú要yào学xué汉语hànyǔ
He doesn’t want to learn Chinese.

你nǐ不bù想xiǎng來lái上課shàngkè嗎ma？ 你nǐ不bù想xiǎng来lái上课shàngkè吗ma？
Don’t you want to come to class?

• Negation word: 不 bù and 沒没 méi

• Negation word: 別 bié

不 + 是 shì or 姓 xìng

These two specific verbs always require the use of 不 bù. YES 姓 xìng (last name) is a verb in Chinese.

我wǒ不是búshì中國人Zhōngguórén我wǒ不是búshì中国人Zhōngguórén
I am not Chinese.

他tā不姓búxìng李Lǐ他tā不姓búxìng李Lǐ
His last name isn’t Li.

Tone Changes

When the following word is in the first tone, second tone, or third tone, it should be pronounced with the fourth tone.

不bù好hǎo不bù好hǎo　not good

不bù知道zhīdào不bù知道zhīdào　don’t know

不bù能néng不bù能néng　not able to

When the following word is in the fourth tone or a neutral tone, 不 should be pronounced with the second tone.

不bú要yào不bú要yào　don’t want

不bú會huì不bú会huì　will not

Practice

Try to read the following words:

不 yào    不 xiǎng    不 kěyǐ    不 zhīdào    不 dǒng    不 qù    不 lái    不 shuìjiào   不 xǐhuan    不 fāngbiàn    不 dà    不 xiǎo    不 cháng    不 duǎn    不 pàng    不 shòu    不 néng    不 huì