沒有 and 不

[流]

I'm a bit confused about when to use 沒有, and when to use 不. For example, semantic nuance suggested using "我沒有寫" instead of "我不寫." Does it change depending on the content of the sentence, or is there a more specific rule? Could you say something like, "Wo3 mei2 you3 xiang3 qu4 mei3 guo2 (random example)?"

Any info would be great, thanks.

[novemberfog]

I don't know how correct or not this is, but I was told by a Chinese that 没 is used for past actions/past tense and 不 is for present/future tense. That could have just been a generlatization though.

[semantic nuance]

流,

In the case you mentioned, read the follwing examples:

1. A: 去寫功課! (Go do your homework!)

B: 不要, 我不寫! (No, I don't (want to) do it.)

2. A: 你為什麼不去美國? Why don't you go to USA?

B: 1. 我不去美國是因為我不想離開父母.(The reason) I don't go to USA is that I don't want to be away from my parents.

B: 2. 我沒有想要去美國---meaning it never occurred to me to go to USA.

B:3. 我不想去美國. I don't want to go to USA.

Hope it helps!

[elina]

我沒有寫: I have not written it.

我不寫: I do not want to write it.

Some detailed explanation about 没有 and 不, please see New Chinese-English Dictionary of Function Words:

Page 33，不

http://photo.163.com/openpic.php?user=elinasatter&pid=998663021&_dir=%2F36903246

Page 34，不

http://photo.163.com/openpic.php?user=elinasatter&pid=998663101&_dir=%2F36903246

Page 35，不

http://photo.163.com/openpic.php?user=elinasatter&pid=998663203&_dir=%2F36903246

Page 36，不

http://photo.163.com/openpic.php?user=elinasatter&pid=998663295&_dir=%2F36903246

Page 37，不

http://photo.163.com/openpic.php?user=elinasatter&pid=998663392&_dir=%2F36903246

Page 278，没有

http://photo.163.com/openpic.php?user=elinasatter&pid=998663545&_dir=%2F36903246

Page 279，没有

http://photo.163.com/openpic.php?user=elinasatter&pid=998663647&_dir=%2F36903246

Page 280，没有

http://photo.163.com/openpic.php?user=elinasatter&pid=998663752&_dir=%2F36903246

[gougou]

If you feel not confused enough yet about this topic, try this thread - worked for me!

PS: Found it after endless browsing, because there still is no way to search for single characters.

:help roddy?:help

[L-F-J]

Mei2 you3= have not (past)

Bu4= don't (present)

"wo3 mei2 you3 qu4 kan4 dian4 ying3"= I haven't gone to the movies.

"wo3 bu4 qu4 kan4 dian4 ying3"= I don't go to the movies.

There is also "cong2 lai2". (ever)

"wo3 cong2 lai2 mei2 you3 qu4 kan4 dian4 ying3"= I have never gone to the movies.

"wo3 cong2 lai2 bu4 qu4 kan4 dian4 ying3"= I never go to the movies.

Otherwise mei2 you3 is to not have, to lack something.

"wo3 you3 qian2" = I have money.

"wo3 mei2 you3 qian2" = I don't have money.

Bu4 is to negate most things.

hao3= good

bu4 hao3= not good

kuai4= fast

bu4 kuai4= not fast

[semantic nuance]

I found that people had thought bu is used in present or future tense while mei you is ued in the past. Generally speaking, yes! But always remember there's exception. For example, what if I say : Why didn't you go to the party last night? 為什麼妳昨天晚上不去 party? here in the past, bu is used. Using this sentence as an example to tell the difference.

為什麼妳昨天晚上不去 party? (不去 shows the stress on 'didn't want to' part)

為什麼妳昨天晚上沒有去 party? (沒有去 shows the stress on 'the action of not going)

Hope it helps!

[流]

Wow, such quick replies. Now I've got to digest all this info. So far, it has all helped me very much:mrgreen:

謝謝你們！

[jiajia]

没有-not yet

e.g.我没有做作业.I have not done my homework.

不-no ,not

e.g.我不做作业.I don't like to do my homework.

so.没有-to indicate that u did not do sth .u have not done sth.

不-sometimes to show u don not like to do sth.

[anonymoose]

So 没有 is used for the past. But I was under the impression that if you want to say something like

- I was late because I couldn't find my keys

it should be

- 我迟到了是因为我不能找到我的钥匙

and not

- 我迟到了是因为我没有能够找到我的钥匙

[HashiriKata]

You're correct, anonymoose!

There is a category of auxiliary verbs (= modal verbs) which require 不, even when we're talking about past events. Don't forget also what sematic nuance said earlier:

為什麼妳昨天晚上不去 party?

[againstwind]

1.

"没有" is used to describe objective things which happened or happen, not will happen.

"不" is used to describe subjective desires which happened, happen or will happen.

e.g.

以前他没有去过。

前天他没去。

今天他没有来。 (objective things)

前天请他他不来，现在不请他他更不来了。 (subjective desire)

2.

"不" can be used before all auxiliary verbs.But "没有" can only be used before 能, 能够, 要, 肯 , 敢 ,etc., which mean abilities or attitudes

e.g.

不会讲| 不该去| 不可以用 | 不应该问他 | 不愿意走

For the examples above "没有" can not replace "不".

"不" + auxil.v. + v. has five kinds of forms:

不能去 | 能不去 | 不能不去 | 能不能去？| 能去不能？

"没有" + auxil.v. + v. have has only one kind of form:

没能去

ps

On anonymoose's confusion, I think the latter one "我迟到了是因为我没有能够找到我的钥匙" is better.

[in_lab]

If it's not raining [right now], I want to go out.

如果沒有下雨,我(就)要出去.

According to page 279 from the pages that elina posted, this looks correct because it is a negation of an action in progress, but I'm not very confident about that.

Q1: But can you say the following?

如果不是下雨,我(就)要出去.

or 如果不下雨,我(就)要出去.

Q2: What about the following two sentences when describing the future?

If it's not raining [tomorrow], I want to go out.

If it doesn't rain [tomorrow], I want to go out.

[semantic nuance]

to me, when you say 如果不是下雨,我(就)要出去, that means it rained in the past, so that's the reason you didn't go out. 如果不是(因為)下雨,我(就)要出去.

When you say 如果不下雨,我(就)要出去, it could mean the possibility. It might not rain or might rain. So, your going out depends on raining or not.

Hope it helps!

[lighting]

i try to explain the word "mei you" and "bu".

"不" is an adverb, means "No".

"没有" is a word ,combine chars 没 and 有 , 没 means "not, without" ."有"means "with , has or describe sometime once has happened", so "没有"offen used to describe as present perfect,. and commonly noun or subodinate clause will follow "没有" and verb and adverb follow the char "不"

here is some sentences:

钱不是万能的，但没有钱是万万不能的。

money is not onipotent, But you can do nothing without money

"不" = not, and 没有 = "without"

你有没有见过从不说谎的火星人?

have you seen any martian who never lies?

你不说话没人当你是哑巴

be quiet.

[Quest]

如果不是下雨 and 如果没有下雨 can mean different things depending on context and time aspects.

不是:

如果不是下雨

Indicatives:

if it's not raining, if it wasn't raining, if it hasn't been raining, if it hadn't been raining. (of course u could go on: if it hasn't had been raining......if it hadn't had been raining..... if it hasn't had had been raining....................................)

Subjunctives:

if it weren't raining, if it hadn't been raining, if it weren't for the rain, if it hadn't been for the rain.

没有:

如果没有下雨:

Indicatives

if it didn't rain, if it hasn't rained, if it hadn't rained, if it didn't start raining, if it hasn't started raining, if it hadn't started raining

Subjunctives:

if it hadn't rained, if it hadn't started raining

So, to translate: If it's not raining [right now], I want to go out.

I would use: 如果不是下雨的话，我想出去一下。

Of course, 如果没有下雨 can accomplish the same meaning thru "if it hasn't started raining". 如果没有下雨的话，我想出去一下。

"if it's not raining right now" can also mean "if it stopped raining", to translate it: 如果雨停了, 我想出去一下。

[Altair]

Would it also be okay to say 要是不是下着雨 to express "If it isn't raining..."?

Also, I am curious as to whether there is any consensus about the sentences below, which I have taken from three different grammar books. The books seem to be in categorical disagreement.

1. 他不在睡着 (S/he isn't sleeping) (This books says that using 没有 is not possible).

2. 他在睡觉呢吗? 他没(有)(在)睡觉,他在整理房间呢。(He isn't taking a nap: he is in the midst of cleaning his room.)(This second book excludes the possibility of using 不.)

3. 昨天上午我没(有)在打球。or 昨天上午我不在打球。(I wasn't playing any ball games yesterday morning.)(This third book appears to contradict the one mentioned in sentence 1 and says that the "difference between [the two versions] is that 没(有) is simply factual and objectivew while 不 implies a degree of intention."

Which one of these three opinions, if any, seems most accurate?

Also, how do you negate sentences like 他留着胡子?

One book has, the following, implying that it is best to omit 着.

4. 他没有留这胡 (He doesn't have a beard.)

5. 墙上没有挂画 (There isn't any painting on the wall.)

Another book has sentences like the following, implying that it is all right to keep 着.

6. 车上没(有)放这行李。(There is no luggage (placed) in the car.)