“Not at all” in Chinese – yìdiǎn yě bù

Grammar Point:
一點点也不 yìdiǎn yě bù is used in Chinese to emphasize complete negation or “not at all”. It expresses that there is not even a little bit of something or no degree of a particular quality, attitude, or behavior.

Structure

一點点 yìdiǎn + 也 yě or 都 dōu + 不 bù + Adj

Using 一點点 yìdiǎn with 也 yě or 都 dōu strengthens the negation, highlighting a “complete lack” of something. Without 一點点 yìdiǎn, the negation still works but feels less emphatic. This pattern is commonly used in spoken Chinese and sounds very natural in everyday conversations.

我wǒ一點yìdiǎn也yě不bú累lèi我wǒ一点yìdiǎn也yě不bú累lèi
I’m not tired at all.

她tā一點yìdiǎn都dōu不bù開心kāixīn她tā一点yìdiǎn都dōu不bù开心kāixīn
She’s not happy at all.

他tā一點yìdiǎn也yě不bù喜歡xǐhuān吃chī甜tián的de東西dōngxī他tā一点yìdiǎn也yě不bù喜欢xǐhuan吃chī甜tián的de东西dōngxi
He doesn’t like sweets at all.

這zhè本běn書shū一點yìdiǎn也yě不bù好看hǎokàn这zhè本běn书shū一点yìdiǎn也yě不bù好看hǎokàn
This book isn’t good at all.

學xué中文zhōngwén一點yìdiǎn都dōu不bù難nán学xué中文zhōngwén一点yìdiǎn都dōu不bù难nán
Learning Chinese isn’t difficult at all.

一點点 yìdiǎn + (O) + 也 yě or 都 dōu + Neg + V

老師lǎoshī一點yìdiǎn英文yīngwén也yě不會búhuì說shuō老师lǎoshī一点yìdiǎn英文yīngwén也yě不会búhuì说shuō
The teacher doesn’t speak any English.

弟弟dìdi一點yìdiǎn事shì都dōu沒méi做zuò弟弟dìdi一点yìdiǎn事shì都dōu没méi做zuò
My younger brother didn’t do anything at all.

我wǒ一點yìdiǎn都dōu不bù想xiǎng去qù我wǒ一点yìdiǎn都dōu不bù想xiǎng去qù
I don’t want to go at all.

你nǐ一點yìdiǎn責任感zérèngǎn都dōu沒有méiyǒu你nǐ一点yìdiǎn责任感zérèngǎn都dōu没有méiyǒu
You have no responsibility at all.

他tā一點yìdiǎn茶chá也yě沒méi喝hē他tā一点yìdiǎn茶chá也yě没méi喝hē
He didn’t drink tea at all. (Non-happening in the past)

他tā一點yìdiǎn茶chá也yě不bù喝hē他tā一点yìdiǎn茶chá也yě不bù喝hē
He doesn’t drink tea at all. (Refused to)

• Imperatives “to do more” – V + Adj 一點点 yìdiǎn (HSK 2)

•  A little bit – 有一點点 yǒuyìdiǎn & 一點点 yìdiǎn (HSK 3)

• “A bit too” in Chinese – Adj 了點点(儿)diǎndiǎn(r) le diǎndiǎn(r) (HSK 4)