Grammar · 语法 yǔfǎ

没有

méi yǒu

The negation of possession and past action — and the critical rule that separates 没 from 不.

概览 gàilǎn Overview — The Two Negators
语法洞见 yǔfǎ dòngjiàn · Grammar Insight

Mandarin has two primary negation words, and they are not interchangeable:

不 bù — the volitional, general, or present-state negator. Negates willingness, habits, ongoing states, and non-past actions. It expresses what won't happen, isn't true by nature, or is refused.

没 méi — the factual, past-event, or possession negator. Negates completed actions, possession of things, and objective facts about what has or hasn't occurred. It expresses what didn't happen or doesn't exist in fact.

The distinction is fundamentally about time and volition: 不 looks to the present/future or expresses will; 没 looks to the past or states facts about existence and occurrence.

没有 méiyǒu Negating Possession — "Don't Have"
没有 méiyǒu · Possession Negation Pattern Subject + 没有 + Object
我没有钱。I don't have money. ／ 他没有时间。He doesn't have time. ／ 这里没有人。There's nobody here.
没有 + Noun méiyǒu + N don't have ___; there is no ___
V 动词 negation
没有 is the negation of 有 (to have; there is/are). 有 can never be negated with 不 — only 没. This is one of the most common errors for English speakers: *不有 is ungrammatical. Always say 没有.
我没有手机。
Wǒ méiyǒu shǒujī.
I don't have a mobile phone.
冰箱里没有食物了。
Bīngxiāng lǐ méiyǒu shíwù le.
There's no more food in the fridge.
他没有钱，但是很快乐。
Tā méiyǒu qián, dànshì hěn kuàilè.
He has no money, but he's very happy.
关键规则 guānjiàn guīzé · Critical Rule 有 yǒu is negated ONLY with 没, never 不:
✓ 我没有时间 "I don't have time"
✗ 我不有时间 (ungrammatical)
This applies to existential 有 as well: 没有人 "there is nobody" / 没有问题 "there is no problem."
过去 guòqù Negating Past Actions — "Didn't / Haven't"
没(有) + Verb · Past Negation Pattern Subject + 没(有) + Verb (+ Object)
我没去。I didn't go. ／ 他没吃饭。He didn't eat. ／ 我们没有看那部电影。We didn't watch that film.
没(有) + Verb méi(yǒu) + V didn't ___; haven't ___
V 动词 past negation
In past-tense contexts, 没 (or 没有) negates the completion of an action. Note: when 没 is used in this way, the completion particle 了 le is dropped — 没 and 了 are incompatible. 没 takes the place of 了, indicating the action did not complete.
我昨天没去上课。
Wǒ zuótiān méi qù shàngkè.
I didn't go to class yesterday.
他没有告诉我这件事。
Tā méiyǒu gàosu wǒ zhè jiàn shì.
He didn't tell me about this.
我没睡好。
Wǒ méi shuì hǎo.
I didn't sleep well.
语法 yǔfǎ · 没 + 了 incompatibility ✓ 他吃了饭。"He ate." (completed action + 了)
✓ 他没吃饭。"He didn't eat." (negated with 没, no 了)
✗ 他没吃了饭。(ungrammatical — cannot combine 没 and 了 this way)
The 了 is simply absent when 没 negates a completed action.
经历 jīnglì Negating Experience — 没 + Verb + 过
没 + Verb + 过 méi + V + guo have never ___; haven't ___ before
V 动词 experiential negation
过 guo marks experiential aspect — that something has ever occurred as part of one's life experience. 没 + Verb + 过 negates that experience: the action has never happened at all. Compare: 我没去 "I didn't go [that time]" vs. 我没去过 "I've never been there."
我没去过中国。
Wǒ méi qùguo Zhōngguó.
I've never been to China.
她没吃过北京烤鸭。
Tā méi chīguo Běijīng kǎoyā.
She's never eaten Peking Duck.
我没见过这么漂亮的地方。
Wǒ méi jiànguò zhème piàoliang de dìfāng.
I've never seen such a beautiful place.
辨析 biànxī 不 vs. 没 — The Critical Distinction
不 vs. 没 · The Core Decision Use 不 for: (1) present/future negation; (2) habitual states; (3) willingness/refusal; (4) characteristics ("I'm not a teacher")
Use 没 for: (1) past actions that didn't complete; (2) negating 有 (possession/existence); (3) negating life experience (+ 过)
不 vs. 没 minimal pairs bù vs. méi Seeing the difference clearly
辨析 biànxī contrast
The same verb with 不 and 没 can produce very different meanings. The choice reveals whether you're talking about facts (past/existence) or dispositions/futures (will/habit).
我不吃肉。
Wǒ bù chī ròu.
I don't eat meat. (habit / dietary rule / won't)
我没吃肉。
Wǒ méi chī ròu.
I didn't eat (any) meat. (fact about a past occasion)
他不来了。
Tā bù lái le.
He's decided not to come. (change of plan / refusal)
他没来。
Tā méi lái.
He didn't come. (factual — he was absent)
句型 jùxíng Common 没有 Patterns to Memorize
没什么 méi shénme nothing / it's nothing / no big deal
Set phrase
没 + 什么 (what; anything). 没什么 = "nothing; it's nothing." As a response to thanks or apologies: 没什么！= "No worries! / It's nothing!" Also as a statement: 冰箱里没什么吃的 "There's nothing much to eat in the fridge."
谢谢你！— 没什么，小事一件。
Xièxie nǐ! — Méi shénme, xiǎo shì yī jiàn.
Thank you! — It's nothing, just a small thing.
没关系 méiguānxi it doesn't matter; no problem; never mind
Set phrase
没 + 关系 guānxi (connection; relationship; relevance). "There is no [problematic] connection." The universal Chinese reassurance: "It's fine / don't worry about it." Response to apologies, inconveniences, or expressions of guilt.
对不起！— 没关系，没事的。
Duìbuqǐ! — Méiguānxi, méi shì de.
I'm sorry! — It's fine, don't worry.
还没(有)呢 hái méi(yǒu) ne not yet
Set phrase
还 hái (still; yet) + 没有 + 呢 ne (continuation particle). The standard way to say "not yet" — implying the action is expected but hasn't completed. Stronger and more colloquial than simply saying 没有.
他来了吗？— 还没有呢。
Tā lái le ma? — Hái méiyǒu ne.
Has he arrived? — Not yet.
你吃饭了吗？— 还没呢。
Nǐ chīfàn le ma? — Hái méi ne.
Have you eaten? — Not yet.