不是

Learning Chinese: How to Say "No" in Chinese

Chinese Characters: 不是
Pinyin: bù shì
Pronunciation: boo4 shi4
English Translation: No

Usage:

"不是 (bù shì)" is the most common way to say "no" in Chinese. It can be used in both formal and informal settings.

Example:

Chinese: 这个不是我的。
Pinyin: Zhè ge bù shì wǒ de.
English: This is not mine.
Variations:

There are a few variations of "不是 (bù shì)" that you may hear:

没有 (méi yǒu): Literally means "not have," and can also be used to say "no."
不行 (bù xíng): Means "not possible" or "not allowed."
Tips for Learning:

Practice saying "不是 (bù shì)" out loud to improve your pronunciation.
Listen to native Chinese speakers saying "no" to get a sense of the natural rhythm and intonation.
Use "不是 (bù shì)" in your daily conversations to practice using it in context.
Additional Notes:

"不是 (bù shì)" can also be used to negate other words or phrases. For example:

Chinese: 我不是学生。
Pinyin: Wǒ bù shì xuéshēng.
English: I am not a student.
Chinese: 这本书不是新的。
Pinyin: Zhè běn shū bù shì xīn de.
English: This book is not new.
To say "no" in a more polite way, you can use the phrase "不好意思 (bù hǎo yìsi)", which literally means "not good意思 (yìsi)".

For example:

Chinese: 不好意思，我不能帮你。
Pinyin: Bù hǎo yìsi, wǒ bù néng bāng nǐ.
English: I'm sorry, I can't help you.