Use 不 for habits, choices, and future situations
不 commonly negates present habits, opinions, regular actions, and decisions about the future. It can describe what someone does not do or does not want to do.
我不喝咖啡。
Wǒ bù hē kāfēi. — I do not drink coffee.
Wǒ bù hē kāfēi. — I do not drink coffee.
我不喜欢太辣的菜。
Wǒ bù xǐhuan tài là de cài. — I do not like very spicy dishes.
Wǒ bù xǐhuan tài là de cài. — I do not like very spicy dishes.
明天我不去。
Míngtiān wǒ bú qù. — I am not going tomorrow.
Míngtiān wǒ bú qù. — I am not going tomorrow.
Before a fourth tone, 不 is pronounced with a rising second tone: 不是 bú shì. The spelling remains 不; only the spoken tone changes.
Use 没 for non-occurrence and possession
没 or 没有 says that an action did not happen, has not happened, or that something is not present. It is also the normal negative for 有 yǒu (to have).
我昨天没喝咖啡。
Wǒ zuótiān méi hē kāfēi. — I did not drink coffee yesterday.
Wǒ zuótiān méi hē kāfēi. — I did not drink coffee yesterday.
我还没有吃饭。
Wǒ hái méiyǒu chīfàn. — I have not eaten yet.
Wǒ hái méiyǒu chīfàn. — I have not eaten yet.
我没有现金。
Wǒ méiyǒu xiànjīn. — I do not have cash.
Wǒ méiyǒu xiànjīn. — I do not have cash.
Do not use 不 to negate 有. “I do not have” is 我没有, not 我不有.
A quick decision test
- Is the verb 有? Use 没有.
- Did the action fail to happen or has it not happened yet? Use 没(有).
- Are you describing a habit, opinion, preference, or future choice? Use 不.
- Are you correcting an identity or fact with 是? Use 不是.
Time words make the intended meaning clearer. Compare 我不去了 (“I am not going; I changed my plan”) with 我没去 (“I did not go; it did not happen”).
Common learner mistakes
- Do not translate every English “not” as 不. First decide whether the action happened.
- Do not add 了 after 没 to mark a completed negative action. The combination 没去了 is not the normal pattern.
- Keep 不要 for commands and warnings: 不要走！ means “Don’t leave!”