How to Say ‘No’ in Simplified Chinese
不是
bù shì
[bù shir]
💬 Usage Tip: 不是 literally means "is not," but in conversation it can also work as a plain "no." You'll also see the same pattern in full sentences like 我不是学生 — "I'm not a student."
Phrase Breakdown
不
bù
[bù]
not
Used to form the negative of verbs.
他不想参与。
He does not want to participate.
是
shì
[shir]
to be
The verb “to be,” used to identify or describe a situation.
你是第一次来，所以我给你介绍一下。
Since it’s your first time here, I’ll introduce things to you.
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