How to Say No in Chinese

Chinese

不是

Pinyin

bú shì

Sounds like

boo shir

Read it piece by piece

不

bú

boo

English IPA /buː/

是

shì

shir

English IPA /ʃɜːr/

When to use 不是

Neutral correction

Use 不是 to deny that something is the case or to correct an identification.
Use 不 before many present or future verbs, 没有 for 'do not have' or many past events, and 不要 for 'do not' commands.

没有

沒有

méi yǒu

Do not have; there is not

Neutral

不要

bú yào

Do not; do not want

Direct

Is this your bag? No, it is not.

这是你的包吗？不是。

這是你的包嗎？不是。

zhè shì nǐ de bāo ma? bú shì

Do you have cash? No, I do not.

你有现金吗？没有。

你有現金嗎？沒有。

nǐ yǒu xiàn jīn ma? méi yǒu

Do not use 不是 to negate every verb; choose the negative form that matches the question.