“Not very” in Chinese – 不太 bútài

Grammar Point:
The phrase 不太 bútài in Chinese grammar is a combination of the negation word 不 bù (not) and the degree adverb 太 tài (too/very). Together, they create a structure that expresses a mild negation or conveys the idea of “not very” when describing a certain degree or extent of something.

Structure

不太 + Adjective

When used with adjectives, 不太 bútài expresses a degree lower than expected or desired but not completely absent.

今天jīntiān的de天氣tiānqì不bú太tài冷lěng今天jīntiān的de天气tiānqì不bú太tài冷lěng
Today’s weather is not very cold.

這個zhège菜cài不bú太tài好吃hǎochī这个zhège菜cài不bú太tài好吃hǎochī
This dish is not very delicious.

我wǒ還hái不bú太tài餓è， 你nǐ慢慢來mànmānlái沒關係méiguānxī我wǒ还hái不bú太tài饿è， 你nǐ慢慢来mànmānlái没关系méiguānxi
I’m not very hungry yet, so take your time.

說shuō中文zhōngwén不bú太tài難nán， 但是dànshì寫xiě中文zhōngwén太tài難nán了le说shuō中文zhōngwén不bú太tài难nán， 但是dànshì写xiě中文zhōngwén太tài难nán了le
Speaking Chinese isn’t too hard, but writing it is really difficult.

公司gōngsī最近zuìjìn不bú太tài忙máng， 要yào一起yìqǐ去qù打球dǎqiú嗎ma？公司gōngsī最近zuìjìn不bú太tài忙máng，要yào一起yìqǐ去qù打球dǎqiú吗ma？
The company’s not too busy lately. Want to go play golf?

不太 + Verb

When used with verbs, 不太 bútài indicates a lack of frequency or intensity in performing the action.

他tā最近zuìjìn不bú太tài工作gōngzuò他tā最近zuìjìn不bú太tài工作gōngzuò
He doesn’t work very much recently.

我wǒ不bú太tài懂dǒng這個zhège問題wèntí我wǒ不bú太tài懂dǒng这个zhège问题wèntí
I don’t quite understand this problem.

我wǒ不bú太tài看kàn電視diànshì我wǒ不bú太tài看kàn电视diànshì
I don’t really watch TV.

她tā不bú太tài想xiǎng去qù中國Zhōngguó工作gōngzuò她tā不bú太tài想xiǎng去qù中国Zhōngguó工作gōngzuò
She doesn’t really want to work in China.

你nǐ這個zhège月yuè都dōu不bú太tài回huí我wǒ訊息xùnxí， 你nǐ在zài忙máng什麼shénme？ 你nǐ这个zhège月yuè都dōu不bú太tài回huí我wǒ讯息xùnxī， 你nǐ在zài忙máng什么shénme？
You haven’t been replying to my messages much this month. What have you been busy with?

Usage in Spoken Language

“不太” is widely used in conversational Chinese because it sounds softer and less direct than an outright negation. It often reflects a polite tone or uncertainty, aligning with the tendency in Chinese culture to avoid being overly direct or harsh. 

我wǒ覺得juéde他tā不bú太tài好hǎo我wǒ觉得juéde他tā不bú太tài好hǎo
I think he’s not very good.
(A tactful way to say someone isn’t great, rather than bluntly saying 他不好 (tā bùhǎo), which sounds harsh.)

他tā不bú太tài喜歡xǐhuān吃chī辣là他tā不bú太tài喜欢xǐhuan吃chī辣là
He doesn’t really like spicy food.
(He might tolerate it, but it’s really not his favorite.)