不[bù]

副

1. (used before verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs; never before 有) not; won't; not want to

♦ 他的病~(很)严重。 His illness is not (very) serious.

♦ 他~是学生。 He isn't a student.

♦ 我~会。 I don't know how.

2. (used before certain nouns to form an adjective) un-; in-

♦ 不法

♦ 不轨

3. (used by itself or with a particle in responses) not so; no

♦ 他知道吗？—~, 他不知道。 Does he know? —No, he doesn't.

♦ 他不知道吧？—~, 他知道。 He doesn't know, does he? —Yes, he does.

4. 方 (used at the end of a sntence to indicate that it is a question)

♦ 他现在身体好~？ Is he in good health now?

5. (used between a verb and its complement) cannot

♦ 进~去 cannot go in

♦ 拿~动 find sth. too heavy to carry

6. (inserted within a reduplication, usu. preceded by 什么) no matter (how, where, etc.)

♦ 什么学历~学历, 要有真才实学才行。 It doesn't matter how much formal schooling you've had; what matters is whether you have real ability and learning.

7. (used correlatively with 就) if not... (then...)

♦ 他这会儿~是在教室, 就是在图书馆。 He's now either in the classroom or in the library.

8. (used in polite formulas only) don't; needn't

♦ 不谢