How to Say ‘Not / am not’ in Traditional Chinese
不是
bù shì
[boo shir]
💬 Usage Tip: Before a fourth-tone syllable, [不] is said (bú), so [不是] sounds like (bú shì). This pronunciation change is very common and worth listening for.
Phrase Breakdown
不
bù
[boo]
not; no
A negation word. Before 是, it forms 不是, meaning 'is not' or 'not the case.'
這不是我平常走的路。
This is not the road I usually take.
是
shì
[shir]
to be; is; are
A linking verb used to identify or confirm something. With 不, it becomes 不是.
這是我平常走的路嗎？
Is this the road I usually take?
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