Meaning of 不用
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- need not
How to use 不用
不用 goes before a verb to say something is unnecessary, and it is also a common polite reply on its own when someone offers help or thanks you. Example: 你不用来。(Nǐ bùyòng lái.) You don't need to come.
不用 is built from 不 (bù, not) and 用 (yòng, to use). If you do not have to use something, you do not need it, so 不用 means "no need to."
Common mistake: The tone of 不 changes before a fourth tone, so 不用 is said bú yòng, not bù yòng. Learners also confuse 不用 (no need to) with 不要 (bú yào, don't), which sounds like an order or a prohibition.
不用 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
不 bù · no · 4 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
用 yòng · to use · 5 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Related words
Words that share a character with 不用.
| 对不起 | duìbuqǐ | I'm sorry; excuse me; I beg your pardon; to let (sb) down; to disappoint |
| 是不是 | shì bu shì | is or is not (used to form yes-no questions) |
| 有用 | yǒuyòng | useful |
| 不大 | bù dà | not very (clear, far away etc); not too; not often; infrequently |
| 不对 | bùduì | incorrect; wrong |
| 不客气 | bù kèqì | you're welcome; don't mention it |
| 不要 | bùyào | don't!; must not |
| 不过 | bùguò | only; merely |
| 不错 | bùcuò | correct; right |
| 不行 | bùxíng | won't do; be out of the question |
| 不同 | bù tóng | different; distinct |
| 不好意思 | bù hǎoyìsi | to feel embarrassed; to find it embarrassing |
Questions about 不用
What does 不用 mean?
不用 (bùyòng) means "need not" and is used as a adverb.
How do you write 不用?
不用 is made of 2 characters: 不 (4 strokes), 用 (5 strokes). That is 9 strokes in total.
Is 不用 an HSK word?
Yes. 不用 is on the HSK 1 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
Can I say 不用 to reply to 谢谢?
Yes. 不用谢 (bú yòng xiè) means "no need to thank me" and works much like 不客气 (bù kèqì). Plain 不用 also works when you are turning down an offer, as in 不用，我自己来 (Bú yòng, wǒ zìjǐ lái), meaning "No need, I'll do it myself."
What is the opposite of 不用?
The opposite is 要 (yào) or 得 (děi), both meaning "need to" or "have to." For example, 你得去 (Nǐ děi qù) means "You have to go," while 你不用去 (Nǐ bú yòng qù) means "You don't need to go."