Chinese Grammar Bank
HOW TO USE 双重否定
Double negation in Chinese is a common grammatical structure used to emphasise necessity, certainty, or to convey a softened tone.
Unlike in English, where double negation often results in a positive meaning (e.g., “not impossible” = “possible”), in Chinese, it has more nuances and is more flexible.
HOW TO USE 不得不
This structure expresses necessity or lack of choice.
It means have to or must.
PATTERN
[Subject] + 不得不 + [Verb]
我不得不去上班。
I have to go to work.他身体不好，所以不得不休息。
He is not in good health, so he has to rest.View More Examples:
| 我生病了，不得不请假。 | Wǒ shēngbìng le, bù dé bù qǐngjià. | I got sick, so I have to take leave. |
| 他的钱花光了，不得不向朋友借钱。 | Tā de qián huā guāng le, bù dé bù xiàng péngyǒu jiè qián. | He ran out of money and had to borrow from friends. |
| 下雨了，我们不得不取消旅行计划。 | Xiàyǔ le, wǒmen bù dé bù qǔxiāo lǚxíng jìhuà. | It started raining, so we had to cancel our travel plans. |
| 老板临时安排了会议，我不得不加班。 | Lǎobǎn línshí ānpái le huìyì, wǒ bù dé bù jiābān. | The boss scheduled a meeting last minute, so I have to work overtime. |
| 电梯坏了，我们不得不爬楼梯。 | Diàntī huài le, wǒmen bù dé bù pá lóutī. | The elevator broke, so we have to take the stairs. |
| 为了通过考试，我不得不每天复习。 | Wèi le tōngguò kǎoshì, wǒ bù dé bù měitiān fùxí. | To pass the exam, I have to study every day. |
| 他受伤了，不得不停止比赛。 | Tā shòushāng le, bù dé bù tíngzhǐ bǐsài. | He got injured, so he had to stop the competition. |
| 因为家里的事情，她不得不回老家。 | Yīnwèi jiālǐ de shìqíng, tā bù dé bù huí lǎojiā. | Because of family matters, she had to return to her hometown. |
HOW TO USE 不是不
This structure is often followed by a clarification or exception.
Implying it’s not that… but… and often introducing an exception or justification.
PATTERN
不是不 + [Verb/Adjective, (but…)]
我不是不想去，只是今天太累了。
It’s not that I don’t want to go, it’s just that I’m too tired today.他不是不聪明，只是没有好好努力。
It’s not that he’s not smart, it’s just that he hasn’t worked hard enough.View More Examples:
| 我不是不想去，只是今天太忙了。 | Wǒ bú shì bù xiǎng qù, zhǐshì jīntiān tài máng le. | It’s not that I don’t want to go, it’s just that I’m too busy today. |
| 他不是不聪明，只是缺少经验。 | Tā bú shì bù cōngmíng, zhǐshì quēshǎo jīngyàn. | It’s not that he’s not smart, it’s just that he lacks experience. |
| 我不是不喜欢这部电影，只是觉得有点长。 | Wǒ bú shì bù xǐhuān zhè bù diànyǐng, zhǐshì juéde yǒudiǎn cháng. | It’s not that I don’t like this movie, it’s just that it feels a bit long. |
| 她不是不想帮忙，而是她也有自己的事情要做。 | Tā bú shì bù xiǎng bāngmáng, ér shì tā yě yǒu zìjǐ de shìqíng yào zuò. | It’s not that she doesn’t want to help, it’s that she has her own things to do. |
| 我不是不愿意尝试，只是我还需要时间准备。 | Wǒ bú shì bù yuànyì chángshì, zhǐshì wǒ hái xūyào shíjiān zhǔnbèi. | It’s not that I’m unwilling to try, it’s just that I need more time to prepare. |
| 他们不是不支持你，只是他们有不同的意见。 | Tāmen bú shì bù zhīchí nǐ, zhǐshì tāmen yǒu bùtóng de yìjiàn. | It’s not that they don’t support you, it’s just that they have different opinions. |
| 我不是不想买这件衣服，而是价格太贵了。 | Wǒ bú shì bù xiǎng mǎi zhè jiàn yīfu, ér shì jiàgé tài guì le. | It’s not that I don’t want to buy this clothing, it’s just that the price is too high. |
| 他不是不爱运动，只是最近身体不好。 | Tā bú shì bù ài yùndòng, zhǐshì zuìjìn shēntǐ bù hǎo. | It’s not that he doesn’t like sports, it’s just that he’s been unwell recently. |
HOW TO USE 不是没
This double negation is the combination of negation 不是 and negation 没.
没 is short for 没有 (méiyǒu) and is used to indicate non-existence or absence of something (haven’t/ don’t have).
The 不是没 (bú shì méi) is similar to 不是不 but is used to indicate that something did happen or does exist, though it may not be obvious or sufficient.
It implies that while something is true, there might be limitations, conditions, or other factors at play.
PATTERN
不是没 + [Verb/Adjective], (but…)
不是没 emphasizes that something occurred, exists, or is possible but is followed by a clarification or reason.
我不是没努力，只是时间不够
It’s not that I didn’t work hard, it’s just that I didn’t have enough time.View More Examples:
| 他不是没尝试，只是结果不理想。 | Tā bú shì méi chángshì, zhǐshì jiéguǒ bù lǐxiǎng. | It’s not that he didn’t try, it’s just that the result wasn’t ideal. |
| 这家餐厅不是没特色，而是我们更喜欢别的地方。 | Zhè jiā cāntīng bú shì méi tèsè, ér shì wǒmen gèng xǐhuān bié de dìfāng. | It’s not that this restaurant isn’t special, it’s just that we prefer another place. |
| 她不是没考虑过，只是还没做出决定。 | Tā bú shì méi kǎolǜ guò, zhǐshì hái méi zuò chū juédìng. | It’s not that she didn’t think about it, she just hasn’t made a decision yet. |
| 我们不是没见过面，只是已经很久没联系了。 | Wǒmen bú shì méi jiànguò miàn, zhǐshì yǐjīng hěn jiǔ méi liánxì le. | It’s not that we haven’t met, it’s just that we haven’t been in touch for a long time. |
| 这件事不是没人提醒你，而是你没重视。 | Zhè jiàn shì bú shì méi rén tíxǐng nǐ, ér shì nǐ méi zhòngshì. | It’s not that no one reminded you, it’s just that you didn’t take it seriously. |
| 他们不是没钱，只是舍不得花。 | Tāmen bú shì méi qián, zhǐshì shěbùdé huā. | It’s not that they don’t have money, it’s just that they are reluctant to spend it. |
| 8. 他不是没看到你的消息，而是没时间回复。 | Tā bú shì méi kàndào nǐ de xiāoxī, ér shì méi shíjiān huífù. | It’s not that he didn’t see your message, it’s just that he didn’t have time to reply. |
DOUBLE NEGATION WITH MODAL VERBS
In Chinese, double negation can occur with modal verbs like 会 (huì – will), 能 (néng – can), or 可能 (kěnéng – might) to express certainty, necessity, or high possibility that something will happen or is true.
➡️ This structure often gives a strong affirmative meaning by using two negatives.
PATTERN
[Subj.] + 不 + [Modal Verbs (会 / 能 / 可能 + 不 / 没 ) ]+ [Predicate]
不会不 + Predicate
你不会不知道吧？
You can’t possibly not know, right?不会没 + Predicate
你不会没听到我刚才说的话吧？
You must have heard what I just said, right?➡️ This sentence uses double negation (不会 + 不知道) to express strong affirmation, combined with the 吧 particle to seek confirmation.
➡️ It implies the speaker assumes the listener already knows something and is asking for reassurance.
不可能不 + Predicate
➡️ Meaning: Strong assertion that it’s impossible not to do something.
她不可能不知道。
It’s impossible that she doesn’t know.不可能没 + Predicate
➡️ Meaning: Strong assertion that it’s impossible something didn’t happen.
他不可能没收到你的信息。
It’s impossible that he didn’t receive your message.不能不 + Predicate
➡️ Meaning: Necessity or obligation to do something.
孩子们不能不遵守学校的规定。
The children must follow the school’s rules.不能没 + Predicate
你不能没带钱包就出门。
You can’t leave the house without bringing your wallet.不会没 + Predicate
➡️ Meaning: Affirms that someone would not do something without proper preparation.
他不会没准备就去面试。
He would never go to the interview unprepared.不可能没 + Predicate
➡️ Meaning: Strong assertion that something must have been noticed or done.
我们不可能没注意到这个错误。
It’s impossible that we didn’t notice this mistake.View More Examples:
| 你不会不知道吧？ | Nǐ bú huì bù zhīdào ba? | You can’t possibly not know, right? |
| 你不会没听到我刚才说的话吧？ | Nǐ bú huì méi tīngdào wǒ gāngcái shuō de huà ba? | You must have heard what I just said, right? |
| 她不可能不知道 | Tā bù kěnéng bù zhīdào. | It’s impossible that she doesn’t know. |
| 他不可能没收到你的信息。 | Tā bù kěnéng méi shōudào nǐ de xìnxī. | It’s impossible that he didn’t receive your message. |
| 孩子们不能不遵守学校的规定。 | Háizimen bù néng bù zūnshǒu xuéxiào de guīdìng. | The children must follow the school’s rules. |
| 你不能没带钱包就出门。 | Nǐ bù néng méi dài qiánbāo jiù chūmén. | You can’t leave the house without bringing your wallet. |
| 他不会没准备就去面试。 | Tā bú huì méi zhǔnbèi jiù qù miànshì. | He would never go to the interview unprepared. |
| 我们不可能没注意到这个错误。 | Wǒmen bù kěnéng méi zhùyì dào zhège cuòwù. | It’s impossible that we didn’t notice this mistake. |
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FAQs
What is double negation in Chinese?
Double negation occurs when two negative words cancel each other out, creating an affirmative meaning.
What structures that use double negation?
Structures like 不是不, 不能不, and 没有不 are frequently used in Chinese double negation.
How is Chinese double negation different from English?
Unlike English, where double negatives can sometimes imply negation (e.g., “I don’t know nothing”), in Chinese, they always lead to an affirmative meaning.
Can double negation be used in both formal and informal speech?
Yes!
It appears in daily conversation as well as formal writing, such as 不能不承认 (“One cannot deny…”).
Is double negation always a strong affirmation?
Not always.
While it often reinforces affirmation, it can sometimes indicate hesitation or politeness, depending on context.
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