🙅‍♂️🍷

How to Say ‘I'm not much of a drinker.’ in Simplified Chinese

我不太会喝酒。

wǒ bù tài huì hē jiǔ

[waw bù tie huì huh jiu]

💬 Usage Tip: 会 here means "good at" or "able to handle", not "will". 不太 softens it to "not really": 我不太会唱歌 "I'm not much of a singer".

🇨🇳 In China: This is a polite, well-understood way to turn down heavy drinking in China, where friends often push each other to drink more. It saves face for both sides.

Phrase Breakdown

我不太会

wǒ bù tài huì

I'm not very good at

wǒ bú tài huì: 不太 means 'not very'. 不 changes to a rising 'bú' before the falling 'tài'.

Example

我不太会做饭。

I'm not very good at cooking.

Words in this phrase

我

wǒ

[waw]

I; me

The first-person pronoun, used to refer to yourself.

Example

我也想了解这个公司的文化。

I also want to understand this company’s culture.

不

bù

[bù]

not

Used to form the negative of verbs.

Example

他不想参与。

He does not want to participate.

太

tài

[tie]

too; very

Often used before an adjective to mean 'too' or 'very,' depending on context.

Example

你太客气了，还带礼物来。

You're too polite; you even brought gifts.

会

huì

[huì]

can; know how to

Expresses a learned skill or ability, such as speaking a language.

Example

他会游泳。

He can swim.

喝酒。

hē jiǔ

Drinking alcohol

hē jiǔ: 'drink alcohol'. Say a high, flat 'hē', then a dipping 'jiǔ'.

Example

他喜欢喝酒。

He likes to drink.

Words in this phrase

喝

hē

[huh]

to drink

The verb used for drinking beverages like coffee or tea.

Example

我喜欢早上喝咖啡。

I like to drink coffee in the morning.

酒

jiǔ

[jiu]

alcohol

A distilled drink or fermented beverage that contains alcohol.

Example

这酒很贵。

This alcohol is very expensive.

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