How to say no in Chinese
"No" in Chinese is 不 (bù). Chinese no is usually the negated verb from the question: 不 for wants, habits, the present and future, and 没 for what did not happen or what you do not have.
Ways to say no
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| 不 | bù | no | The default answer. |
| 不用了，谢谢 | bù yòng le, xiè xie | no thanks | Politely turning down an offer, such as a bag or more food |
| 不是 | bù shì | no, it isn't | Answering a question built with 是 |
| 没有 | méi yǒu | no, I didn't / I don't have any | Answering questions about the past or about having something |
| 不要 | bù yào | I don't want it / don't | Refusing something firmly, or telling someone not to do something |
| 不行 | bù xíng | no, that won't work | Refusing permission or saying something is not acceptable, quite firm |
What people say back
Example sentences
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 你是老师吗？不是，我是学生。 | nǐ shì lǎo shī ma? bù shì, wǒ shì xué sheng. | Are you a teacher? No, I'm a student. |
| 你吃饭了吗？还没有，我刚下班。 | nǐ chī fàn le ma? hái méi yǒu, wǒ gāng xià bān. | Have you eaten? Not yet, I've just finished work. |
| 要袋子吗？不用了，谢谢。 | yào dài zi ma? bù yòng le, xiè xie. | Do you need a bag? No thanks. |
| 这里可以抽烟吗？不行，这里不能抽烟。 | zhè lǐ kě yǐ chōu yān ma? bù xíng, zhè lǐ bù néng chōu yān. | Can I smoke here? No, smoking isn't allowed here. |
| 你有兄弟姐妹吗？没有，我是独生子女。 | nǐ yǒu xiōng dì jiě mèi ma? méi yǒu, wǒ shì dú shēng zǐ nǚ. | Do you have any brothers or sisters? No, I'm an only child. |
The characters in 不
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning here |
|---|---|---|
| 不 | bù | not, no |
Common mistakes
- 不 is said bú before a fourth tone (bú shì, bú yào, bú yòng) and bù before the other tones (bù xíng, bù néng, bù hǎo). The pinyin in the tables here writes bù throughout, as dictionaries do.
- 有 is only ever negated with 没: say 没有, never 不有.
- Use 没 for things that did not happen: 我没去 is "I didn't go", while 我不去 is "I'm not going".
- A bare 不 sounds blunt. Repeating the negated verb, or adding 谢谢 when refusing an offer, sounds far more natural.
Related
- Yes in Chinese: 是
- Please in Chinese: 请
- Sorry in Chinese: 对不起
- Polite phrases in Chinese: 不客气
- All phrases and words
Frequently asked questions
How do you say no in Chinese?
不 (bù). Other ways: 不用了，谢谢 (bù yòng le, xiè xie); 不是 (bù shì); 没有 (méi yǒu).
What is the difference between 不 and 没 in Chinese?
不 (bù) negates the present, the future, habits and wishes: 我不喝酒, "I don't drink". 没 (méi) negates the past and 有: 我没喝, "I didn't drink it".
How do you say no thank you in Chinese?
Say 不用了，谢谢 (bù yòng le, xiè xie), literally "no need, thanks".
How do you say no politely in Chinese?
Soften it: 不用了 (bù yòng le) for offers, 不好意思，不行 (bù hǎo yì si, bù xíng) when you must refuse, or 我再想想 (wǒ zài xiǎng xiang), "let me think about it".
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