31.22
4
(sp. pr. ㄅㄨˋ [bu4] , except ㄅㄨˊ [bu2] before 4th tone: thus 不是 [bu2shi4] , 不怕 [bu2pa4] ).
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typical of special uses are: (1) In elliptical sentences: “你去不去?” “我不” “Are you going?” “I am not.”
(2) With another negative to form double negative: 不無 not without;
不無可取 not without merit;
無不，莫不 all, without exception;
莫不感激 (we) all are grateful;
不免 “cannot help,” (common MC) must, have to: 不免回去一趟 have to go home and see;
不免心中不樂 could not help feeling disappointed.
(3) In comb. 不…不 neither this nor that: 不大不小 not too big nor too small--just right;
不清不楚，不明不白 not clear;
不三不四 cannot make head or tail;
irregular, shapeless;
不知不覺 unconsciously;
不男不女 effeminate man, manly woman;
不倫不類 nondescript;
neither fowl nor fish;
不偏不黨 fair to all;
不卑不亢 neither obsequious nor arrogant--cordial but independent;
不即不離 neither accepting nor rejecting (proposal), maintaining discreet distance;
不多不少 just the right amount.
(4) In comb.不…而 without: 不問而知 one knows without asking;
不學而能 do a thing easily, naturally;
不寒而慄 makes one shudder (at sight);
不勞而獲 gain results without working for them;
不脛而走 “runs without legs”--disappear;
不翼而飛 “fly without wings,” ditto;
不約而同，不謀而合 agree, fit without previous consultation, be a coincident.
(5) Placed before auxiliary verbs: 不能，不克 cannot, unable;
不會 will not, cannot;
不必 it's not necessary;
不合，不宜，不該，不應 should not;
不是 is not;
不肯 not willing;
不可，不可以 may not, must not;
不得 [bu4de2]↓.
(6) With common vbb.: 不知 do not know;
不識 ditto;
不料 did not expect;
不想 never thought;
不見得 [bu2jian4de0]↓;
不妨 [bu4fang2]↓;
不禁 [bu2jin4]↓;
不外，不過 [bu2wai4], [bu2guo4];
不如 [bu4ru2]↓.
(7) Sometimes, rarely, combined with nn.: 不衫不履 without shirt or shoes;
不毛之地 barren land.
(8) With other advv.: 不但 not only, more than;
不寧 not only.
(9) Freely with adjj.: 不行 [bu4xing2]↓;
不同 different, unlike;
不多 not much;
不好 [bu4hao3]↓;
不便 [bu2bian4]↓;
不舒服 unwell, uncomfortable;
不滿意 dissatisfied;
不安 [bu4an1], 不快 [bu4kuai4]↓.
2.不安 [bu4an1], adj., uneasy; unwell; unsatisfied.
3.不備 [bu2bei4], phr., (1) (at end of letter) there is more than I can tell you in this letter; phr., (2) adj., unprepared: 乘其不備 take advantage of s.o.’s unpreparedness.
4.不必 [bu4bi1], adv., not necessary, need not: 不必客氣 need not stand on ceremony; 不必說 that goes without saying; adj., 不必等 do not wait.
5.不便 [bu2bian4], adj., inconvenient: 不便告訴你 inconvenient to inform you.
6.不辰 [bu4chen2], phr., 我生不辰 I was born under unlucky star.
7.不成 [bu4cheng2], phr., (1) will not do (＝不行 [bu4xing2]↓); (2) 難道不成 you don't mean (s.t. quite uncalled-for).
8.不成話 [bu4cheng2hua4], phr., (s.t.) is ridiculous.
9.不器 [bu4qi4], phr., 君子不器 (AC) “a gentleman's ability is not confined to any one thing” (versatile).
10.不起 [bu4qi3], (1) adj., in 不起之症 incurable sickness; (2) vb. complement: 看不起 despise; vb. 買不起 cannot afford to buy; vb. 想不起 cannot recall, or call up to mind; vb. cannot lift up, etc.
11.不求人 [bu4qiu2ren2], n., bamboo or wooden back-scratcher with long handle.
12.不情 [bu4qing2], adj., as in 不情之請 unreasonable demand; also (court.) my presumptuous demand.
13.不揣 [bu4chuai3], phr., (court.) am presumptuous.
14.不啻 [bu4chi4], phr., same as, as if: 不啻天地 same as the difference between heaven and earth.
15.不群 [bu4qUn2], phr., stand out among the group.
16.不齒 [bu4chi3], phr., be ashamed to be regarded in same group.
17.不倒翁 [bu4dao3weng1], n., a doll which always rights itself up; (fig.) a politician surviving all upheavals.
18.不大離兒 [bu2da4li2] ([bu2da4lie2er0]), adv., almost (＝差不多).
19.不但 [bu2dan4], adv., not only.
20.不到 [bu2dao4]1, phr., not quite: 不到三十 under thirty.
21.不道 [bu2dao4]2, (1) phr., contrary to expectations (see [bu4liao4]↓); (2) adj., unreasonable, wicked.
22.不得 [bu4de2], phr., cannot, unable: 不得而知 cannot know (results; answer); phr., 不得勁 (兒) (s.t., s.o.) does not work properly; phr., in awkward position; 不得不 cannot but, cannot help (doing); 不得已 could not help (doing), have no choice but to; 不得了 be in a bad way, disastrous, impending; 了不得 wonderful.
23.不弔 [bu2diao4], adj., (AC) fall under bad times, unlucky.
24.不第 [bu2di4], phr., (1) fail in examinations for degrees; (2) not only.
25.不定 [bu2ding4], adv., not necessarily (bad, etc.), (also 不一定).
26.不對 [bu2dui4], adj., (1) (of answers) wrong, not so; (2) do not get along (with person): 不對勁 (兒) not right, do not fit in or agree, do not get along well.
27.不動產 [bu2dong4chan3], n., immovable (real property).
28.不獨 [bu4du2], phr., (LL) not only, see [bu4dan4]↓.
29.不爾 [bu2er3], phr., not so, see [bu4ran2]↓.
30.不貳 [bu2er4], adj., loyal (to one master only).
31.不法 [bu4fa3], adj., illegal (acts).
32.不凡 [bu4fan2], adj., extraordinary, unusual.
33.不妨 [bu4fang2], phr., no harm (trying, speaking directly to person, etc.).
34.不服 [bu4fu2], phr., (1) unwilling (to admit, recognize, accept decision); (2) 不服水土 body does not agree with climate.
35.不敢 [bu2gan3], vb. aux., dare not; vb. aux.,不敢當 [bu2gan3dang1], phr., (formula for thanking) I am unworthy.
36.不甘 [bu4gan1], phr., dissatisfied, chagrined ,will not take it lying down.
37.不根 [bu4gen1], adj., baseless (talk).
38.不更事 [bu4geng1shi4], phr., 少不更事 inexperienced in life.
39.不辜 [bu4gu1], n., an innocent person.
40.不管 [bu4guan3], adj. & conj., regardless (of what happens): 不管什麼人 regardless of persons.
41.不軌 [bu4gui3], adj., irregular (activities).
42.不規則 [bu4gui1ze2], adj., irregular, not regular.
43.不顧 [bu2gu4], phr., disregarding (obligations, “face”, requests, taboos).
44.不過 [bu2guo4], (1) adv., only, merely: 不過如此 it's only soso; adv., 不過看一看 merely take a look; (2) conj., but, on the other hand; conj., 不過意 phr., feel embarrassed (by hospitality etc.).
45.不國 [bu4guo2], phr., already does not function as a country.
46.不古 [bu4gu3]1, phr., 世風不古 customs nowadays are no longer what they were.
47.不穀 [bu4gu3]2, phr., (AC, said by ruler court.) I (“not competent one”).
48.不好 [bu4hao3], adj., not good, will not do; 不好意思 embarrassed; 不好了 (a thing) has been spoiled, turned worse.
49.不合 [bu4he2], (1) vb. aux., should not have (done); (2) conflict with (opinioon, rules, etc.), does not meet with (s.o.’s wishes).
50.不遑 [bu4huang2], phr., (LL) have no time to, too busy to.
51.不會 [bu2hui4], vb. aux., cannot, (conjecture) could not.
52.不諱 [bu2hui4], (1) v.i., (of person) pass away; (2) phr., 直言不諱 speak without fear or favour.
53.不惑 [bu4huo4], n., (allu.) aged forty: 不惑之年，年已不惑.
54.不羈 [bu4ji1], adj., (person, conduct) untrammeled, free, nonconformist (“not bridled”).
55.不見得 [bu2jian4de0], phr., don't appear to be: 不見得兩樣 does not appear to be different; phr., as a phr., “I don't think so,” “does not seem so to me.”
56.不見了 [bu2jian4le0], v.i., disappear, vanish.
57.不結盟國家 [bu4jie1meng2guo2jia1], n., non-aligned countries.
58.不濟 [bu2ji4], phr., (1) does not help; (2) will not succeed: 不濟事 useless, will fail, will die.
59.不記名 [bu2ji4ming2], phr., anonymous (votes), unregistered (stocks).
60.不禁 [bu2jin4], vb. aux., cannot help (laughing out loud, crying, etc.).
61.不給 [bu4ji3], adj., insufficient, inadequate (funds).
62.不景氣 [bu4jing3qi4], n., (economic) depression.
63.不經 [bu4jing1], adj., absurd; 不經濟 uneconomical; 不經事 inexperienced; 不經意 paying no attention; inattentive.
64.不久 [bu4jiu3], n., soon, soon later.
65.不及 [bu4ji2], (1) phr., (this) cannot compare with (that); (2) vb. complement, as in 來不及 it's too late (to do).
66.不住 [bu2zhu4], (1) vb. complement, “not firmly,” “not securely”: 站不住 cannot stand one's ground; [bu2zhu4], vb. 抓不住 cannot catch hold of; (2) ceaselessly: 不住口 talk continuously.
67.不中聽 [bu2zhong1ting1], phr., (words) displease person.
68.不中用 [bu2zhong1yong4], adj., useless (person); (euphem.) (person) is dead.
69.不准 [bu4zhun3], phr., do not permit, it is forbidden to (do).
70.不支 [bu4zhi1], phr., cannot stand up under strain.
71.不知情 [bu4zhi1qing2], phr., (1) do not know what happened (used in affidavit); (2) do not feel grateful.
72.不置 [bu2zhi4]1, adv., (LL) continuously: 稱賞不置 praise ceaselessly.
73.不治 [bu2zhi4]2, adj., incurable.
74.不至於 [bu2zhi4yU2], phr., not to the extent of: 他雖不喜歡你，但也不至於恨你 he may not like you, but surely does not hate you.
75.不職 [bu4zhi2], adj., derelect in duty.
76.不拘 [bu4jU1], adv., regardless (of person, class, kind); any, whatever.
77.不龜手 [bu2jU3shou3], adj., (AC, of washing agent) does not disfigure the skin.
78.不刊 [bu4kan1]1, adj., (of work) immortal.
79.不堪 [bu4kan1]2, (1) adv., (used after vb. or adj.,) as in 窮乏不堪 extremely or unbearably poor; (2) phr., cannot stand (noise, bother, etc.): 不堪入耳的話 unspeakable words (of abuse).
80.不可 [bu4ke3], vb. aux., may not, must not; (also 不可以); oft. in double negative: 不可（以）不聽 must not ignore (s.o.’s) advice; 不可不慎 must be careful, 不可告人 private and confidential; secret or shameful (act, disease, etc.); 不可抗力 beyond human control; act of God; 不可一世 (phr.) hoity-toity; haughty airs.
81.不克 [bu4ke4], vb. aux., (LL) cannot (＝不能).
82.不快 [bu4kuai4], adj., (1) displeased; (2) slightly unwell.
83.不匱 [bu4kui4], phr., (AC) endlessly: 孝思不匱 forever filial.
84.不了 [bu4liao3], (1) vb. complement, expressing “cannot accomplish”: 算不了 countless; [bu4liao3], (2) phr., 以不了了之 leave in status quo, like “agree to disagree”; phr., 不了情 unfulfilled but eternal love.
85.不料 [bu4liao4], phr., never thought.
86.不列顛國協 [bu4lie4dian1guo2xie2], n., The British Commonwealth of Nations.
87.不利 [bu2li4], (1) adj., disadvantageous; (2) v.i., do harm to: 不利於你 means to kill you, or harm you.
88.不吝 [bu2lin4], n., (court., and rather formal) I (in self-reference).
89.不理 [bu4li3], (1) v.t., ignore; (2) 不理於人口 will be criticized by people; 不理會 inattentive.
90.不離（兒） [bu4li2] ([bu4lie2er0]), adv., pretty good; 差不離 (兒) almost.
91.不靈 [bu4ling2], adj., (1) (of medicine, machine) does not work well; (2) 不靈了 (＝不行，不成) (s.t.) is spoiled.
92.不論 [bu2lun4], adv., regardless (of persons, etc.).
93.不律 [bu2lU4], n., (AC dial.) a pen (筆).
94.不滿 [bu4man3], adj., dissatisfied.
95.不毛 [bu4mao2], adj., as in 不毛之地 barren land.
96.不美 [bu4mei3], adj., “does not look pretty.”
97.不免 [bu4mian3], vb. aux., have to (esp. in MC dramas).
98.不眠症 [bu4mian2zheng4], n., insomnia.
99.不敏 [bu4min3], n., (LL, in self-reference) I (the first person).
100.不耐煩 [bu2nai4fan2], adj., impatient.
101.不能 [bu4neng2], vb. aux., cannot.
102.不佞 [bu2ning4], n., (rather formal, in writing and speech) I, yours truly.
103.不怕 [bu2pa4], v.i., don’t care, am sure: 不怕他不答應 I am sure, I don't doult, he will agree.
104.不配 [bu4pei4], adj., unworthy, not qualified (to criticize).
105.不平 [bu4ping2], adj., (1) unfair; (2) uneven; adj., (3) phr., 抱不平 feel injustice done to s.o.
106.不讓於 [bu2rang4yU2], phr., quite equal to, can match (s.o.).
107.不然 [bu4ran2], (1) conj., otherwise, if not: 不然的話 ditto; (2) phr., 不以為然 (s.o.) thinks it is not so, (s.o.) disagrees.
108.不忍 [bu4ren3], phr., cannot bear to: 不忍人之心 a heart of mercy.
109.不仁 [bu4ren2], adj., (1) unkind, malevolent; (2) (hands, feet) benumbed.
110.不
症 [bu2ren2zheng4], n., infertility, sterility. 111.不如 [bu4ru2], phr., would rather (go home, etc.).
112.不容 [bu4rong2], phr., (1) (condition) does not permit; (2) 為人所不容 is unwelcome by people.
113.不日 [bu2ri4], phr., in a few days.
114.不勝 [bu4sheng1], adv., (before or after vb.) overwhelmed: 不勝感愧 or 感愧不勝 feel overwhelmed.
115.不想 [bu4xiang3], phr., never thought, do not want.
116.不下 [bu2xia4], phr., not less (than thirty, etc.).
117.不像話 [bu2xiang4hua4], adj., too ridiculous.
118.不像樣（兒） [bu4xiang4yang4] ([er0]), adj., disreputable (conduct.).
119.不相稱 [bu4xiang1cheng4], adj., incompatible.
120.不相干 [bu4xiang1gan1], phr., (affair) does not concern (person).
121.不相能 [bu4xiang1neng2], phr., do not get along well together.
122.不相下 [bu4xiang1xia4], phr., will not yield to each other; 不相上下 more or less equal in strength, value.
123.不祥 [bu4xiang2]1, adj., unlucky.
124.不詳 [bu4xiang2]2, phr., not given not known, not stated: 名不詳 anonymous.
125.不消 [bu4xiao1], phr., do not need: 不消說 needless to say; 不消半小時 do not need more than half an hour.
126.不孝 [bu2xiao4]1, n., person recently bereaved of his parent (used in obituary notice) “I, the unfilial son.”
127.不肖 [bu2xiao4]2, adj., (1) unfilial; (2) foolish (opp. to 賢): 賢不肖 the wise and the foolish.
128.不屑 [bu2xie4], phr., to despise (doing), will not condescend to: 不屑與辯 will not condescend to argue with person.
129.不興 [bu4xing1], adj., not fashionable or seasonable; not decent (to do).
130.不行 [bu4xing2], phr., (1) (this) will not do, not up to standard; (2) should not be done.
131.不朽 [bu4xiu3], adj., immortal (work, deeds).
132.不殊 [bu4shu1], phr., same as.
133.不舒服 [bu4shu1fu0], adj., (1) unwell, under the weather; (2) uncomfortable.
134.不爽 [bu4shuang3], phr., (1) (God's justice) never fails; (2) do not feel well.
135.不淑 [bu4shu2], phr., 遇人不淑 ill-matched in marriage.
136.不是 [bu2shi4]1, (1) adv., be not, is not; adv., oft. used to mean “if not”: 不是你提起，倒忘記了 if you did not remind me, I would have forgotten it; (2) ([bu2shi0]) n. & adj., wrong: 這就是你的不是了 this is your mistake.
137.不適 [bu2shi4]2, adj., (LL) not well.
138.不時 [bu4shi2], adv., (1) not in proper time; (2) always, daily: 不時之需 (medicine) may be needed any time.
139.不須 [bu4xU1]1, vb. aux., need not (+vb.).
140.不需 [bu4xU1]2, phr., do not need (+n.).
141.不宣 [bu4xUan1], phr., 心照不宣 (end of letter) will stop here, without further occupying your attention.
142.不許 [bu4xU3], phr., do not permit.
143.不腆 [bu4tian3], adj. (AC) my humble (gift).
144.不
[bu4cai3], v.t., ignore (person). 145.不才 [bu4cai2], n., (in formal correspondence) I, the worthless person.
146.不測 [bu4ce4], n. & adj., any untoward event.
147.不錯 [bu2cuo4], phr., pretty good, not bad, very good indeed.
148.不次 [bu4ci4], phr., not in normal sequence.
149.不通 [bu4tong1], adj., (1) (writing) ungrammatical, unidiomatic; (2) (person) stupid, bigoted, educated but mind still closed; (3) (road) closed to traffic; (4) (statement) illogical.
150.不圖 [bu4tu2], phr., (LL) see [bu4liao4]↑.
151.不在 [bu2zai4], phr., (1) (importance) does not lie in; (2) not at home; 不在乎 immaterial, nonchalant, could not care less; 他不在乎 he does not mind, is not important to him.
152.不做美 [bu2zuo1mei3], phr., do not, or will not, help (happy occasion, marriage), such as rain on wedding day.
153.不足 [bu4zu2], phr., not enough, not sufficient, not qualified (to be teacher).
154.不貲 [bu4zi1], phr., 所費不貲 went to a lot of expenses.
155.不自在 [bu2zi1zai4], adj., unwell, do not feel fit or comfortable.
156.不外 [bu2wai4], prep., only, nothing more than.
157.不韙 [bu2wei3], n., (usu. 大不韙) a great error, a heinous crime.
158.不穩 [bu4wen3], adj. unsteady, unstable (market, position).
159.不謂 [bu2wei4], phr., never thought that.
160.不惟 [bu4wei2], phr., not only.
161.不無 [bu4wu2], phr., not without: 不無少補 not without some benefit.
162.不揚 [bu4yang2], adj., (LL) ugly-looking: 其貌不揚.
163.不要 [bu2yao4], vb. aux., (1) will not, do not want (to, or a thing); (2) (optative) do not (do s.t.): 不要動 do not move; (photography) hold it; 不要臉 shameless.
164.不一 [bu4yi1], phr., (1) (also 不一一) and so forth; innumerable; (2) not uniform (opinion).
165.不意 [bu4yi4], phr., (LL) never thought that.
166.不已 [bu4yi3], adv., without stop.
167.不由 [bu4you2], phr., (1) see [bu2jin4]↑; (2) 不由分說 without giving one the opportunity to explain.
168.不由得 [bu4you2de0], phr., see [bu2jin4]↑.
169.不遇 [bu4yU4]1, phr., had no chance to meet or recognized by person who might help.
170.不豫 [bu2yU4]2, adj., (1) (LL) not well; (2) displeased.
171.不用 [bu2yong4], vb. aux., (1) need not (tell you, etc.); (2) (optative) you need not (go, doubt, etc.); 不用說 needless to say, let alone.
172.不渝 [bu4yU2]1, adj., (love, etc.) unchangeable.
173.不虞 [bu4yU2]2, adj. & n., an untoward event.