How to use 不 (bù) and 没 (méi) in Chinese

The correct answer is C.

Translation:

Nǐ míngtiān qù dǎ lánqiú ma?
Tom：你   明天     去  打  篮球   吗？

Are you going to play basketball tomorrow?

Nǐ bú qù, wǒ yě bú qù.
Jack：你 不 去，我 也 不 去。

If you’re not going then I’m not going.

Explanations:

Note: The tone for 不 (bu4) will turn to second tone when 不 (bu4) is used before the Characters in fourth tone. That’s why there are two different tones in the conversation and the following explanations.

This test is designed to examine your knowledge of 不 (bù) and 没 (méi). These two words convey negative meaning when placed before a verb. The differences lie in the following:

1. 不 (bù)

(1). To express one’s will or preference in a negative form.

The above dialogue falls to this category, in which Jack says that if Tom doesn’t go tomorrow, then he won’t either.

Example:

Tāmen bù xiǎng qù gōngyuán.
他们     不 想   去    公园。

They don’t want to go to the park.

(2). To describe a habitual or usual pattern of behavior or a situation in the negative.

Examples:

Tā bù chōuyān, yě bù hējiǔ.
他  不 抽烟，  也  不  喝酒。

He doesn’t smoke or drink.

Tā cóng bù shuōhuǎng.
他   从    不 说谎。

He never tells a lie.

(3). To describe a negative state.

Example:

Zhèxiē xiāngjiāo bù shóu.
这些     香蕉       不 熟。

These bananas are not ripe.

2. 没 (méi)

(1). To describe an action that has already happened in the negative, usually in the form of 没 (méi) + verb.

Examples:

Tā zǎoshang méi chīfàn.
她     早上      没 吃饭。

She didn’t have breakfast.

Nǐ zuótiān qù dǎ lánqiú le ma？
A： 你   昨天   去  打  篮球  了 吗？

Did you go yesterday?

Méi qù.
B： 没 去。

No, I didn’t.

(2). To say that something hasn’t happened yet or talking about a changing state in the negative.

Examples:

Zhèxiē xiāngjiāo méi shóu.
这些       香蕉 没 熟。

These bananas haven’t ripened yet.

(3). To negate the verb 有 (yǒu), “to have.”

Fángzi lǐ méiyǒu rén.
房子   里   没有 人。

There is no one in the house.

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