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Negation

不 and 没

不 for present/future/habit

不 negates most verbs and all adjectives.

💬 Examples
我不去。
Wǒ bú qù.
I'm not going.
📝 不 + verb
我不喜欢。
Wǒ bù xǐhuan.
I don't like (it).
📝 不 negation
没(有) for the past / 'have not'

没 negates 有 and completed actions.

📊 不 vs 没
Particle Use Example
不 present, future, habit, adjectives 我不去
没 completed action, 有 我没去
不 wants & likes 我不要
没 'have not yet' 我还没看
💬 Examples
我没有钱。
Wǒ méiyǒu qián.
I have no money.
📝 没 negates 有
我没吃饭。
Wǒ méi chī fàn.
I haven't eaten.
📝 没 for past / not-yet
不 tone change

不 (bù) becomes bú before a fourth-tone syllable.

💬 Examples
不是
bú shì
is not
📝 bù → bú before 4th tone (shì)
不去
bú qù
not going
📝 bú before qù (4th tone)