v., adv.
to not have; there is not; not (negation for past actions)
没有
to not have; there is not; not (negation for past actions)
The absolute negation of existence and history. Used to state 'don't have' (没有钱) or report that a past event never happened (没有去).
Common Usage & Traps
- 没有钱 — to not have money
- 没有水 — to not have water
- 没有朋友 — to not have friends
-
不有钱没有钱有 is never negated by 不. Use 没有 for not having something.
-
我没有高兴我不高兴Plain adjectives use 不, not 没有. 没有高兴 sounds broken.
-
我不有水我没有水Again, 有 takes 没, not 不.
Why do you say 没有钱 but never 不有钱?
有 is always negated by 没, so 没有钱 is right and 不有钱 is broken.
有 is special: its negative form is always 没有, never 不有. So you say 我没有钱, 他没有朋友, 我没有水. This is not a style choice; 不有 is simply broken.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Not having money | 我没有钱。 | 我不有钱。 |
| Not having water | 我没有水。 | 我不有水。 |
| Not having friends | 他没有朋友。 | 他不有朋友。 |
Why is 我不高兴 correct, but 我没有高兴 sounds broken?
Simple adjectives take 不, not 没有. 我不高兴 is right; 我没有高兴 sounds broken.
For plain adjectives like 高兴, 冷, or 热, use 不. 我不高兴 means I am not happy. 我没有高兴 sounds like you are using the wrong negative word. 没有 only fits 有 or past actions.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Not happy | 我不高兴。 | 我没有高兴。 |
| Not cold | 我不冷。 | 我没有冷。 |
| Not hot | 我不热。 | 我没有热。 |
What's the difference between 不去 and 没去?
不去 means won't go or don't go; 没去 means didn't go.
不 blocks present, future, or habitual actions. 没 and 没有 block past actions that did not happen. 明天我不去 = I am not going tomorrow. 昨天我没去 = I did not go yesterday. Before a verb, 没 is shorter and very common, but 没有 is also fine.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Future or intention | 明天我不去。 | 明天我没去。 |
| Past completed | 昨天我没去。 | 昨天我不去。 |
| General habit | 我不喝茶。 | 我没喝茶。 |
Can you answer 你有钱吗 with just 不?
For 有 questions, answer 没有, not 不. 你有钱吗 gets 没有.
When the question uses 有, the short answer is 没有. A bare 不 cannot answer 你有钱吗. If you answer in a full sentence, say 我没有钱. The same pattern works for 水, 朋友, and 电脑.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Short answer | 你有钱吗？没有。 | 你有钱吗？不。 |
| Full answer | 我没有钱。 | 我不有钱。 |
| With water | 你有水吗？没有。 | 你有水吗？不。 |
Appears in Stories 17 stories
Real context sentences across different daily scenarios and graded readings.
In this warm dialogue, a parent introduces their family at a restaurant. A teacher gently corrects common mistakes about family words and names, making it perfect for HSK 2 learners.
-
A： 没有 。
This heartwarming story shows how a small act of kindness can be passed on. Follow Gao Xianming as he learns an important lesson about generosity in his new city.
-
高先明的手机里也 没有 钱。
-
有人 没有 钱坐车，你给他这五块钱吧。”
Follow Xiao Li as he copes with the effects of forest fires near his home in the US and reflects on environmental changes. A thoughtful story for HSK 4 learners.
-
不过，好在 没有 听说有起火的地方。
Meet Gao Youpeng, a friendly Beijing coworker who welcomes the narrator with local dishes and a simple language-exchange plan. This warm HSK 2 story is perfect for first readings about work and friendship.
-
他也在中为公司工作，但是因为周一我来公司的时候，他去上海了，所以我 没有 看见他。
Join a family on a sweltering Beijing Sunday as a boy learns a funny lesson about playing outside in the summer heat. Perfect for HSK 1 learners.
-
“今天你们学校 没有 人呀？”
-
到了学校，儿子看了看，学校里真的一个人也 没有 。
Why would a millionaire leave a table of lobster and wagyu untouched? This story explores the hidden rules of business dining and the true cost of staying alert.
-
整桌的龙虾、和牛，他一点儿 没有 碰，全程只动了三次筷子：一筷子鱼，一根青菜，半碗汤。
-
那种笑是绷着的，嘴角拉平，眼睛里一点儿温度也 没有 ，也不是冷冷的，就是那种空空的感觉。
Think instant noodles are unhealthy? This HSK 6 article challenges common myths and reveals surprising facts about nutrition, oil, and salt in this convenient food.
-
对方便面，很多人都有各种各样的消极的印象，比如 没有 营养、有毒，油、盐含量高等等。
-
就是说方便面里面基本 没有 水，所以就算在里面什么“东西”也不加，它也不会长毛变坏。
Is four years to reach HSK 5 fast or slow? Follow a conversation between two learners as they compare study hours and share realistic strategies for busy adults.
-
B： 没有 啊！
-
我这四年要忙工作，说真话， 没有 很多时间学汉语。
A young man helps an old man look for his cat. But the real surprise is why the old man wanted to find the cat. Read on to learn about kindness and friendship.
-
找了一个月，白天明也 没有 看见那只大白猫。
Discover how a simple letter from a cookie seller led to an unexpected friendship with a famous scholar. This heartwarming story explores kindness and connection across social divides.
-
我只能说，你说的英国制度和美国制度其实 没有 什么不一样。
-
你信上说的那个”杜鲁门 没有 带走一个人”的故事，也正和邱吉尔在一九四五年离开唐宁街十号时 没有 带走一个人，是一样的。
Before you read, think about names: a train is called 'fire vehicle' in Chinese, but there's no fire! This simple rhyme will help you laugh while reviewing everyday words.
-
马路 没有 马。
-
火车 没有 火。
Read this short story about people waiting in the rain for a new phone. You will practice numbers, time, and everyday vocabulary.
-
下雨了，大家都 没有 回去。
Join a shopper on a quick trip to the store. You'll learn simple words for shopping and feelings in this easy-to-follow story.
-
这个商店 没有 我想买的电视。
Ever noticed how similar Chinese words can be? This rhyme plays with place names and homophones, from schools to hotels, even throwing in Samsung's origin. A lighthearted way to boost your word power.
-
书店有好书，饭店吃和住，酒店 没有 酒。
This is a short dialogue about a shopping trip. A woman buys many things, including food, drinks, furniture, and pet food, while her boyfriend reminds her not to overspend.
-
它们昨天就 没有 吃的东西了。
Before you read, try clapping the rhythm. This poem introduces the days of the week and a fun secret: Chinese has two names for Sunday, but no 'Week Seven'!
-
星期 没有 “星期七”，还有一天星期日。
This short, soothing piece is about missing someone on a rainy night. The sentences are simple and repeat often, so you can practice reading while feeling the warm emotion.
-
我们几个月 没有 见了。
Questions & Discussion 0 questions
No questions or discussions yet. Have a question about this character/word? Be the first to ask!