不 bù / bú — (negative prefix); not; no
今天我不想出门。Jīn tiān wǒ bù xiǎng chū mén.I don't want to go out today.
Common words: 不要 (bù yào)、不用 (bù yòng)、对不起 (duì bu qǐ)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "not"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "not", including 不 (bù / bú), 而 (ér), 而 (ér), 没 (méi / mò), 无 (wú), 并 (bìng). Study pinyin, English meanings…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "not" covers 10 different Chinese characters — 不 (bù / bú), 而 (ér), 而 (ér), 没 (méi / mò), 无 (wú), 并 (bìng), 非 (fēi), 未 (wèi) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 10 characters do not share a sound — their readings span bù, bú, ér, méi, mò, wú, and more — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 不 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 不 bù / bú(negative prefix); not; noUseful words: 不要, 不用
- 而 érand; as well as; but (not); yet (not); (shows causal relation); (shows change of state)Useful words: 而且, 而是
- 而 érand; as well as; but (not); yet (not); (shows causal relation); (shows change of state)Useful words: 而且, 而是
- 没 méi / mò(negative prefix for verbs); have not; not; drowned; to end; to dieUseful words: 没有, 没什么
- 无 wú-less; not to have; no; none; not; to lackUseful words: 无法, 无论
Common words for these 10 "not" characters
Anchor each of these 10 characters in a word you can picture — start with 不 (bù / bú) — so "not" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
不要bù yàodon't!; must not不用bù yòngneed not对不起duì bu qǐI'm sorry; excuse me; I beg your pardon; to let (sb) down而且ér qiě(not only ...) but also; moreover; in addition; furthermore而是ér shìrather然而rán érhowever; but; yet而且ér qiě(not only ...) but also; moreover; in addition; furthermore而是ér shìrather然而rán érhowever; but; yet没有méi yǒuhaven't; hasn't; doesn't exist; to not have
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 10 ways to say "not".
而 ér — and; as well as; but (not); yet (not); (shows causal relation); (shows change of state)
这道题简单而有趣。Zhè dào tí jiǎn dān ér yǒu qù.This problem is simple yet interesting.
Common words: 而且 (ér qiě)、而是 (ér shì)、然而 (rán ér)
而 ér — and; as well as; but (not); yet (not); (shows causal relation); (shows change of state)
这道题简单而有趣。Zhè dào tí jiǎn dān ér yǒu qù.This problem is simple yet interesting.
Common words: 而且 (ér qiě)、而是 (ér shì)、然而 (rán ér)
没 méi / mò — (negative prefix for verbs); have not; not; drowned; to end; to die
我今天没带伞。Wǒ jīn tiān méi dài sǎn.I did not bring an umbrella today.
Common words: 没有 (méi yǒu)、没什么 (méi shén me)、没关系 (méi guān xi)
无 wú — -less; not to have; no; none; not; to lack
他无话可说。Tā wú huà kě shuō.He had nothing to say.
Common words: 无法 (wú fǎ)、无论 (wú lùn)、无聊 (wú liáo)
并 bìng — and; furthermore; (not) at all; simultaneously; also; together with
这个问题并不难。Zhè ge wèn tí bìng bù nán.This problem is not difficult at all.
Common words: 并且 (bìng qiě)、合并 (hé bìng)、并非 (bìng fēi)
非 fēi — non-; not-; un-
这件事非常重要。Zhè jiàn shì fēi cháng zhòng yào.This matter is very important.
Common words: 非常 (fēi cháng)、除非 (chú fēi)、并非 (bìng fēi)
未 wèi — 1-3 p.m.; 8th earthly branch; not yet; did not; have not; not
这件事还未完成。Zhè jiàn shì hái wèi wán chéng.This matter is not yet finished.
Common words: 未来 (wèi lái)、未必 (wèi bì)、从未 (cóng wèi)
All 10 characters
Open 不、而、而 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.