Use 不太 bú tài to say “not very” or “not really.” It’s a mild negative: the thing isn’t completely absent, it’s just less than you’d expect. It also sounds softer and more polite than a plain 不 bù.
一 不太 + Adjective
不太 + Adjective
不太 bú tài + adjective means the quality is there, but only a little: “not very cold,” “not very good.”
今天的天氣天气不太冷
The weather isn’t very cold today.
這这個个菜不太好吃
This dish isn’t very good.
我還还不太餓饿，你慢慢來来沒關係没关系
I’m not very hungry yet, so take your time.
說说中文不太難难，但是寫写中文太難难了
Speaking Chinese isn’t too hard, but writing it is really hard.
公司最近不太忙，要一起去打高爾夫球高尔夫球嗎吗？
Work hasn’t been very busy lately. Want to go play golf?
太⋯了 vs. 不太Notice the last two examples: 太難了 tài nán le太难了 tài nán le uses 了 le, but 不太難 bú tài nán不太难 bú tài nán does not. Don’t add 了 after 不太 bú tài + adjective.
Why bú, not bù?不 is normally 4th tone (bù), but before another 4th tone it changes to 2nd tone. 太 is 4th tone, so 不太 is pronounced bú tài.
二 不太 + Verb
不太 + Verb
With a verb, 不太 bú tài means you don’t do it much, or don’t feel it strongly. It’s especially common with verbs like 喜歡 xǐhuān喜欢 xǐhuan, 想 xiǎng, 懂 dǒng, and 會 huì会 huì.
他最近不太運動运动
He hasn’t been exercising much lately.
我不太懂這这個个問題问题
I don’t quite understand this question.
我不太看電視电视
I don’t really watch TV.
她不太想去中國中国工作
She doesn’t really want to go work in China.
你這这個个月都不太回我訊息信息，你在忙什麼什么？
You’ve barely replied to my messages this month. What have you been so busy with?
三 Sounding Softer in Conversation
不太 bú tài is used all the time in conversation because it’s softer than a direct 不 bù. Chinese speakers often avoid sounding too blunt, so 不太 bú tài is a polite way to say something negative.
不 · blunt
他不好
He’s not good. (Sounds harsh.)
不太 · softer
我覺得觉得他不太好
I don’t think he’s that great. (More tactful.)
他不太喜歡喜欢吃辣
He doesn’t really like spicy food.
Gentler than 他不喜歡吃辣他不喜欢吃辣, “He doesn’t like spicy food.”
這这件衣服衣服不太適合适合你
This outfit doesn’t really suit you.
A kind way to give honest feedback. 😅
四 不太 vs. 太不
Be careful with the order! 不太 bú tài means “not very,” but 太不 tài bù means “too not…” or “really not…”, which is much stronger, and usually comes with 了.
不太 · not very
他不太小心
He’s not very careful.
太不 · way too not
他太不小心了！
He’s way too careless!
五 Common Mistakes
❌ 今天不太冷了
✅ 今天不太冷
太⋯了 needs 了, but 不太 bú tài doesn’t. (今天不太冷了 would mean “it’s become not very cold.”)
❌ 我太不餓饿
✅ 我不太餓饿
For “not very hungry,” 不 comes first: 不太 bú tài.
❌ 這这個个菜很不太好吃
✅ 這这個个菜不太好吃
不太 bú tài already tells you the degree, so don’t add 很 hěn.
六 Practice
Tap the words below in the right order to build the sentence, then check your answer. If it’s wrong, you can try again as many times as you like, or hit “Show answer” if you get stuck. Careful: some tiles are traps and are not needed!
Question 1 of 10
“It’s not very hot today.”
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❌ Try Again
今天不太熱热
No 了 after 不太 bú tài + adjective.
“This book isn’t very interesting.”
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這这本書书不太有意思
No 很 hěn needed.
“I don’t quite understand what you mean.”
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我不太懂你的意思
你的意思我不太懂 is also correct.
不太 bú tài + verb.
“My younger brother doesn’t really like eating vegetables.”
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我弟弟不太喜歡喜欢吃青菜
A softer way to say he doesn’t like them. 🥦
“I’m not very tired yet. Let’s keep walking.”
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我還还不太累，我們我们繼續继续走吧
The 了 le tile is a trap.
“She doesn’t drink coffee much.”
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她不太喝咖啡
With an action verb, 不太 bú tài means you don’t do it much.
“He’s way too careless!”
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他太不小心了！
“Way too careless” is strong, so it’s 太不 tài bù…了, not 不太 bú tài.
“That restaurant isn’t very far from here.”
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那家餐廳餐厅離离這裡这里不太遠远
不太 bú tài goes right before the adjective.
“Speaking Chinese isn’t too hard, but writing it is really hard.”
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說说中文不太難难，但是寫写中文太難难了
不太難 bú tài nán不太难 bú tài nán vs. 太難了 tài nán le太难了 tài nán le. ✍️
