méi: 没 - Not have; No; Didn't

• Keywords: 没, méi, mei, Chinese negation, not have, didn't, Chinese grammar not, difference between mei and bu, how to use mei in Chinese, negating past actions, negating possession, 没有, méiyǒu
• Summary: Discover the essential Chinese negation word 没 (méi), a cornerstone of Mandarin grammar for any beginner. This guide explains how 没 (méi) is used to say you “don't have” something or “didn't do” something in the past. We'll break down the critical difference between 没 (méi) and 不 (bù), providing clear examples and cultural insights to help you master one of the most fundamental concepts in the Chinese language.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): méi
• Part of Speech: Adverb / Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 1
• Concise Definition: A negative word used to negate the existence of something (with the verb 有) or the completion of an action in the past.
• In a Nutshell: 没 (méi) is your go-to word for two key situations: saying you “don't have” something and saying you “didn't do” something. It negates facts about possession and past events. Think of it as the direct equivalent of “don't have,” “haven't,” or “didn't” in English. It's the opposite of the verb 有 (yǒu - to have/exist).

• 没 (méi): This character is composed of the water radical 氵(shuǐ) on the left and a component 又 (yòu), which originally depicted a hand. A helpful way to remember this is to imagine a hand dropping something into the water (氵). The object sinks and disappears, so you “no longer have” it, or it is “gone.” This visual story directly connects to its core meaning of negation and non-existence.

While 没 (méi) is primarily a grammatical function word, its usage patterns reveal a focus on the state and completion of events in Chinese communication. Unlike the English “did not,” which uses an auxiliary verb, Chinese directly negates the past action with 没 (méi), creating a more direct structure (e.g., “I 没 eat” vs. “I did not eat”). Furthermore, 没 is a key component in culturally significant phrases that promote social harmony. For example, 没关系 (méi guānxi), literally “no relationship/consequence,” is the standard way to say “it's okay” or “you're welcome” in response to an apology or thanks. This phrase smooths over social friction and reassures the other person that no trouble was caused, reflecting a cultural value of maintaining smooth interpersonal relationships. Similarly, 没办法 (méi bànfǎ) (“no way to do it”) is a common expression of resignation that conveys a shared understanding of a difficult situation, fostering a sense of common ground rather than individual blame.

没 (méi) is one of the most frequently used words in daily conversation. Its usage can be broken down into a few clear categories.

This is the most fundamental use. 没 is used to negate the verb 有 (yǒu), meaning “to have.” The full form is 没有 (méiyǒu), but in colloquial speech, the 有 (yǒu) is often omitted.

• 我没有钱。(Wǒ méiyǒu qián.) - I don't have money.
• 我没钱。(Wǒ méi qián.) - I don't have money. (More common, informal)

To say an action did not happen in the past, you place 没 (méi) or 没有 (méiyǒu) directly before the verb. Crucially, when you use 没, you must drop the past-action particle 了 (le).

• Correct: 他昨天没来。(Tā zuótiān méi lái.) - He didn't come yesterday.
• Incorrect: 他昨天没来了。

没 is used to form “yes/no” questions about possession or past actions, often in a “Verb-没-Verb” or “Verb…没有?” pattern.

• 你有没有时间？ (Nǐ yǒu méiyǒu shíjiān?) - Do you have time?
• 你吃饭了没有？ (Nǐ chīfàn le méiyǒu?) - Have you eaten yet?

• Example 1:
  • 我没有兄弟姐妹。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ méiyǒu xiōngdì jiěmèi.
  • English: I don't have any siblings.
  • Analysis: A classic example of using 没有 to negate possession of something.
• Example 2:
  • 她今天早上没喝咖啡。
  • Pinyin: Tā jīntiān zǎoshang méi hē kāfēi.
  • English: She didn't drink coffee this morning.
  • Analysis: Here, 没 negates a specific action (drinking coffee) that did not happen in the past (this morning).
• Example 3:
  • 对不起，我没听清楚。
  • Pinyin: Duìbùqǐ, wǒ méi tīng qīngchǔ.
  • English: Sorry, I didn't hear clearly.
  • Analysis: A practical and common apology. 没 negates the verb-complement combination “听清楚” (tīng qīngchǔ - to hear clearly).
• Example 4:
  • 你看完了那本书没有？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ kàn wán le nà běn shū méiyǒu?
  • English: Have you finished reading that book yet?
  • Analysis: This shows the “…了没有?” structure, a very common way to ask if a past action has been completed.
• Example 5:
  • 这件事我真的没办法。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiàn shì wǒ zhēn de méi bànfǎ.
  • English: There's really nothing I can do about this matter.
  • Analysis: Using the set phrase 没办法 (méi bànfǎ) to express helplessness or that a situation is out of one's control.
• Example 6:
  • A: 谢谢你！ (Xièxiè nǐ!) - Thank you!
  • B: 没事儿。 (Méi shìr.) - It's nothing. / No problem.
  • Analysis: 没事儿 is a very common and slightly more casual alternative to 没关系. It literally means “no matter” or “no issue.”
• Example 7:
  • 我长这么大，还没去过北京。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zhǎng zhème dà, hái méi qùguò Běijīng.
  • English: I've grown up this much and still haven't been to Beijing.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates how 没 is used to negate past experiences, often with the particle 过 (guò). The structure is “没 + Verb + 过”.
• Example 8:
  • 这个房间里没有人。
  • Pinyin: Zhège fángjiān lǐ méiyǒu rén.
  • English: There is no one in this room.
  • Analysis: Here, 没有 is used to state the non-existence of something (people) in a certain place.
• Example 9:
  • 我没有他那么聪明。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ méiyǒu tā nàme cōngmíng.
  • English: I am not as smart as him.
  • Analysis: An important grammar point. The “A 没有 B + Adj.” structure is used for comparisons, meaning “A is not as [adjective] as B.”
• Example 10:
  • 你怎么还没做完作业？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ zěnme hái méi zuò wán zuòyè?
  • English: Why haven't you finished your homework yet?
  • Analysis: 还 (hái) is often paired with 没 (méi) to mean “still haven't” done something, expressing a sense of surprise or impatience.

The single most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between 没 (méi) and 不 (bù). Mastering this is a huge step forward in your Chinese journey. Rule of Thumb:

• 没 (méi): Use for the past (“didn't”) and for possession/existence (“don't have”). It negates an objective, completed fact.
• 不 (bù): Use for the present, future, habits, and for negating states/qualities (adjectives, “to be”). It often negates an opinion, intention, or a general truth.

Common Mistakes:

• Mistake 1: Using 不 for past actions.
  • Incorrect: 我昨天 不 去上班。(Wǒ zuótiān bù qù shàngbān.)
  • Correct: 我昨天 没 去上班。(Wǒ zuótiān méi qù shàngbān.) - I didn't go to work yesterday.
  • Why it's wrong: 不 negates present/future intention. “我昨天不去” would sound like you are describing your refusal in the past, e.g., “Yesterday, I decided 'I will not go',” which is awkward and unnatural.
• Mistake 2: Using 不 to negate 有 (yǒu).
  • Incorrect: 我 不 有钱。(Wǒ bù yǒu qián.)
  • Correct: 我 没 有钱。(Wǒ méiyǒu qián.) - I don't have money.
  • Why it's wrong: The verb 有 (yǒu) is special and is exclusively negated by 没 (méi). This is a non-negotiable rule.
• Mistake 3: Using 没 to negate states of being (是, shì) or adjectives.
  • Incorrect: 他 没 很高。(Tā méi hěn gāo.)
  • Correct: 他 不 高。(Tā bù gāo.) - He is not tall.
  • Why it's wrong: 不 (bù) is used to negate inherent qualities or states. The only exception is the comparative structure “A 没有 B 高” (A is not as tall as B).

• 不 (bù) - The other primary negation word in Chinese. Used for present/future actions, habits, and negating adjectives and the verb 是 (shì).
• 有 (yǒu) - The verb “to have” or “to exist.” It is the verb that 没 almost always negates when talking about possession.
• 没有 (méiyǒu) - The full, slightly more formal version of 没. Can be used interchangeably in most contexts, though 没 is more common in fast speech.
• 了 (le) - The completed action particle. It is always dropped when an action is negated with 没.
• 过 (guò) - The past experience particle. It is used with 没 to say you have “never” had a certain experience (e.g., 我没去过 - I have never been).
• 别 (bié) - Another negation word, but it's used for commands and suggestions, meaning “don't!” (e.g., 别说话! - Don't talk!).
• 没办法 (méi bànfǎ) - A very common and useful set phrase meaning “There's nothing that can be done” or “There's no way.”
• 没关系 (méi guānxi) - A fundamental polite expression meaning “it doesn't matter,” “it's okay,” or “you're welcome.”
• 没什么 (méi shénme) - A versatile phrase meaning “it's nothing” or “not much.” Can be a response to thanks or a question like “What are you doing?”.