Updated on December 27, 2022

Do you know how to say “NO” in Mandarin Chinese?

Welcome to Ming Mandarin’s free online Mandarin Chinese lessons. In this lesson, I’ll teach you how to say “no” in Chinese.

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How to Say No in Mandarin Chinese?

Let’s look at the three common ways to say “NO” in Chinese.

#1. 不可能 (bù kěnéng)

• 可能 (kěnéng) means “maybe” or “possibly”.

• 不可能 (bù kěnéng) means “not possible” or “impossible”

Example Conversation #1

1. I heard you’re going to get married.
2. Tīng shuō nǐ yào jiéhūn le.
3. 听说你要结婚了。                  

1. No, that’s impossible, I don’t even have a boyfriend.
2. Bù kěnéng, wǒ dōu méiyǒu nánpéngyǒu.     
3. 不可能，我都没有男朋友。

Example Conversation #2

1. Can you lend me your credit card?
2. Nǐ kěyǐ bǎ xìnyòngkǎ jiè gěi wǒ ma?
3. 你可以把信用卡借给我吗?

1. No way.
2. Bù kěnéng.
3. 不可能。

#2. 不用 (bùyòng)

• 不用 means “no need”. It’s a polite way to reject an offer.

Example Conversation #3

1. Do you need help?
2. Nǐ xūyào bāngmáng ma?
3. 你需要帮忙吗？                               

1. No, thanks.   
2. Bùyòng.
3. 不用。

Example Conversation #4

1. Let me take you home.
2. Wǒ sòng nǐ huíqù ba.
3. 我送你回去吧。

1. No, thanks.
2. Bùyòng, bùyòng.
3. 不用，不用。

#3. 没有 (méiyǒu)

It means “to not have” or “don’t have”.

Example Conversation #5

1. Do you have a laptop?
2. Nǐ yǒu bǐjìběn diànnǎo ma?
3. 你有笔记本电脑吗？

1. No (I don’t have).
2. Méiyǒu.
3. 没有。                                       

Example Conversation #6

1. Have you ever eaten stinky tofu?    
2. Nǐ chīguò chòudòufu ma?
3. 你吃过臭豆腐吗？                   
4. No (I haven’t).
5. Méiyǒu.                                   
6. 没有。

Practice Sentences

Example Conversation #7

1. Have you been to Guilin?
2. Nǐ yǒu láiguò guìlín ma?
3. 你有来过桂林吗？
4. No.
5. Méiyǒu.
6. 没有

Example Conversation #8

1. I’ll bring you a cake tomorrow.
2. Wǒ míngtiān sòng yīgè dàngāo gěi nǐ ya.
3. 我明天送一个蛋糕给你呀。
4. No need.
5. Bùyòng.
6. 不用。

Example Conversation #9

1. Can I become fluent in Chinese in a week?
2. Xué yīgè xīngqí zhōngwén jiù kěyǐ shuō dé hěn liúlì ma?
3. 学一个星期中文就可以说得很流利吗？
4. No way.
5. Bù kěnéng.
6. 不可能。

-Jia Ming