Word: 不 (bù)

一个人并不等于孤独。

Yí gè rén bìng bù děngyú gūdú.

Loneliness and being alone are not the same thing.

一个墨斗弹出两条线,丝路不对

yí gè mòdǒu tánchū liǎng tiáo xiàn,sīlù bú duì

one ink-line box snaps out two lines: the silk thread (line of thought) isn't right

一头撞在南墙上，死不回头

yìtóu zhuàng zài Nán qiáng shang, sǐ bù huítóu

bumping headfirst into the south wall and refusing to turn back even then

一手遮不了天

yìshǒu zhē bù liǎo tiān

one hand cannot cover the sky

一本书八十元，贵不贵？

Yìběn shū bāshí yuán, guì bú guì?

A book costs eighty yuan. Is that expensive?

一条扁担挑两桶水，哪头也不落空

yìtiáo biǎndan tiāo liǎng tǒng shuǐ, nǎ tóu yě bú luòkōng

a carrying pole with two buckets of water: neither end is empty

一根绳儿拴的两个蚂蚱,飞不了你,也蹦不了我

yìgēn shéng ér shuān de liǎng gè màzha,fēi bù liǎo nǐ,yě bèng bù liǎo wǒ

two grasshoppers tied on one string: you can't fly off, and I can't jump away

一根老牛筋,蒸不熟煮不烂

yìgēn lǎo niújīn,zhēng bù shú zhǔ bú làn

a piece of old ox tendon: steaming won't cook it, boiling won't soften it

一根麻不乱，十根麻扯成团

yìgēn má bú luàn, shí gēn má chě chéng tuán

one strand of hemp doesn't tangle, but ten strands pulled together make a knot

一点也不便宜，贵得不得了。

Yìdiǎn yě bù piányi, guì de bùdéle.

It's not even a little bit cheap, it's extremely expensive!

一瓢水泼到地上，想收也收不起来

yìpiáo shuǐ pō dào dìshang, xiǎng shōu yě shōu bù qǐlai

a ladle of water spilled on the ground: you can't gather it back

一看苗头不对，他就溜了。

Yí kàn miáotou bú duì, tā jiù liūle.

As soon as he saw how things were going wrong, he slipped away.

一辈子不出马，到老是个卒

yíbèizi bù chūmǎ, dào lǎo shì gè zú

never move the knight all your life and you stay a pawn to the end

一锅粥打翻在地,收不了场

yìguōzhōu dǎfān zài dì,shōu bù liǎo chǎng

a pot of porridge knocked over on the floor: can't clear it up

七八月的南瓜，皮老心不老

qībā yuè de nánguā, pí lǎo xīn bù lǎo

pumpkins in the seventh and eighth months: the skin is old but the heart isn't

万一下雨，我就不去。

Wànyī xiàyǔ, wǒ jiù bú qù.

In case it rains, I won't go.

万一来不了，我会先给你打电话。

Wànyī lái bù liǎo, wǒ huì xiān gěi nǐ dǎdiànhuà.

In case I can't come, I'll give you a call beforehand.

丈八的灯塔，照远不照近

zhàng bā de dēngtǎ, zhào yuǎn bú zhào jìn

a sixteen-foot lighthouse: lights the far, not the near

丈夫不受人怜

zhàngfu bú shòu rén lián

a real man does not accept others' pity

三个不开口,神仙难下手

sān gè bù kāikǒu,shénxiān nán xiàshǒu

if the three won't open their mouths, even an immortal can't get started

三十晚上晒衣裳,今年不干明年干

sānshíwǎnshang shài yīshang,jīnnián bú gàn míngnián gàn

drying clothes on New Year's Eve: if not dry this year, dry next year

三天不打,上房揭瓦

sāntiān bù dǎ,shàngfáng jiē wǎ

three days without a beating, and he's on the roof pulling off tiles

三尺长的梯子,搭不上檐儿

sānchǐ zhǎng de tīzi,dā bú shàng yán ér

a three-foot ladder: can't be propped up to the eaves

三年不上门,当亲也不亲

sān nián bú shàngmén,dāng qīn yě bù qīn

three years without visiting, even relatives are no longer close

三年不漱口,一张臭嘴

sān nián bú shùkǒu,yì zhāng chòu zuǐ

three years without rinsing the mouth: a stinking mouth

三斧头劈不开的脸,好厚

sān fǔtóu pī bù kāi de liǎn,hǎo hòu

a face that three axe blows can't split: so thick

三日不弹,手生荆棘

sānrì bù tán,shǒu shēng jīngjí

three days without playing, the hands grow thorns

三月里的桃花,红不了多久

sānyuè lǐ de táohuā,hóng bù liǎo duōjiǔ

peach blossoms in the third month: won't stay red long

三百钱买了个瘟猪崽,死活不开口

sānbǎiqián mǎile ge wēn zhūzǎi,sǐhuó bù kāikǒu

three hundred coins buy a plague-struck piglet: dead or alive, it won't open its mouth

三间屋子两头住,谁也瞒不了谁

sān jiān wūzi liǎngtóu zhù,shéi yě mán bù liǎo shéi

three rooms with people living at the two ends: neither can hide anything from the other

上不着天，下不落地

shàngbùzháotiān, xià bú luòdì

above it doesn't touch the sky, below it doesn't land on the ground

上不紧，下不忙

shàng bù jǐn, xià bù máng

if above is not tight, below is not busy

上城头学喇叭，本领不高吹得高

shàng chéngtóu xué lǎba, běnlǐng bù gāo chuī de gāo

going up on the city wall to learn the bugle: skill isn't high but the blowing is high

上班时间不应该处理太多私事。

Shàngbānshíjiān bù yīnggāi chǔlǐ tài duō sīshì.

You shouldn't deal with too many personal matters during work hours.

下楼时我不小心扭了脚。

Xiàlóu shí wǒ bù xiǎoxīn niǔle jiǎo.

I accidentally sprained my ankle going downstairs.

下雨天不撑伞,淋到头上了

xià yǔtiān bù chēngsǎn,lín dào tóushàng le

not putting up an umbrella in the rain: it's pouring on your head

下雨天不适合骑行。

Xià yǔtiān bú shìhé qíxíng.

Rainy days aren't suitable for cycling.

下雪不冷化雪寒

xiàxuě bù lěng huà xuě hán

it isn't cold when snow falls, but it's freezing when snow melts

不，一直是我在用。

Bù, yìzhí shì wǒ zài yòng.

No, I am always using it.

不，不，没问题的。

Bù, bù, méi wèntí de.

No, no, that's okay.

不严不成器，过严防不虞

bù yán bùchéngqì, guò yánfáng bùyú

without strictness a child won't become capable; with too much strictness guard against mishaps

不为良相，当为良医

bù wéi liáng xiàng, dāng wéiliángyī

if you can't be a good prime minister, be a good doctor

不以言取人，不以言废人

bù yǐyánqǔrén, bù yǐ yán fèirén

don't choose a person for his words, don't discard a person for his words

不值得去记。

Bù zhíde qù jì.

It's not worth remembering.

不做不知道。

Bú zuò bù zhīdào.

You'll never know unless you try.

不做亏心事，不怕鬼叫门

bú zuò kuīxīnshì, búpà guǐ jiào mén

do nothing against your conscience and you won't fear ghosts knocking at the door

不做亏心事，心里不发虚

bú zuò kuīxīnshì, xīnli bù fāxū

do nothing against your conscience and your heart won't feel uneasy

不做贼，心不惊，不吃鱼，嘴不腥

bú zuò zéi, xīn bù jīng, bùchī yú, zuǐ bù xīng

if you're not a thief your heart isn't frightened; if you haven't eaten fish your mouth doesn't smell fishy

不关你的事。

Bù guān nǐ de shì.

It has nothing to do with you.

不关我的事。

Bù guān wǒ de shì.

I don't care.

不决定本身就是一个决定。

Bù juédìng běnshēn jiùshì yí gè juédìng.

Not choosing is choosing already.

不冷，谢谢。

Bù lěng, xièxie.

I'm not cold, thanks.

不出门的人容易孤陋寡闻。

Bù chūmén de rén róngyì gūlòuguǎwén.

People who never go out easily become ill-informed and narrow-minded.

不到河边不脱鞋

búdào hébiān bù tuōxié

don't take off your shoes until you reach the river

不努力，你迟早会出局的。

Bù nǔlì, nǐ chízǎo huì chūjú de.

If you don't work hard, sooner or later you'll get weeded out.

不努力学习，你必将后悔。

Bù nǔlì xuéxí, nǐ bìjiāng hòuhuǐ.

If you don't study hard, you will inevitably regret it.

不努力的人迟早会出局。

Bù nǔlì de rén chízǎo huì chūjú.

People who don't work hard will get weeded out sooner or later.

不去做就不知道。

Bú qù zuò jiù bù zhīdào.

You'll never know unless you try.

不受磨难不成佛

bú shòu mónàn bù chéngfó

without suffering ordeals, one doesn't become a Buddha

不只是钱关系重大。

Bù zhǐshì qián guānxi zhòngdà.

Money isn't the only thing that matters.

不叫的狗才咬人

bú jiào de gǒu cái yǎo rén

the dog that doesn't bark is the one that bites

不可能找得到答案。

Bù kěnéng zhǎo dedào dá'àn.

It was impossible to find an answer.

不吃苦中苦，难为人上人

bù chīkǔ zhōng kǔ, nán wei rén shàng rén

if you don't eat the bitterest of the bitter, it is hard to become a person above others

不合格的产品都被剔除了。

Bù hégé de chǎnpǐn dōu bèi tīchúle.

All the substandard products were rejected.

不同国家的经济体制并不一样。

Bùtóng guójiā de jīngjìtǐzhì bìng bù yíyàng.

Different countries have different economic systems.

不同地域的人，口味也不一样。

Bùtóng dìyù de rén, kǒuwèi yě bù yíyàng.

People from different regions have different tastes in food.

不听老人言，吃亏在眼前

bù tīng lǎorén yán, chīkuī zài yǎnqián

if you don't listen to the elders' words, loss is right before your eyes

不好意思，我不觉得我做得到。

Bùhǎoyìsi, wǒ bù juéde wǒ zuò dédào.

Sorry, I don't think I can do it.

不好意思，我有点儿不舒服。

Bùhǎoyìsi, wǒ yǒudiǎnr bù shūfu.

Excuse me, I'm not feeling very well.

不对吧？

Bú duì ba?

That's not right, is it?

不尝苦中苦，不知甜中甜

bù cháng kǔ zhōng kǔ, bùzhī tián zhōng tián

without tasting the bitterest bitter, you won't know the sweetest sweet

不就是你干的么。

Bú jiùshì nǐ gàn de me.

Wasn't that you?

不干我的事！

Bù gān wǒ de shì!

Don't bother me.

不幸的是，她不在。

Búxìng de shì, tā bú zài.

Unfortunately, she is absent.

不当家不知柴米贵，不养儿不知父母恩

bùdāngjiābùzhīcháimǐguì, bù yǎngr bùzhī fùmǔ ēn

if you don't run a household you don't know how dear firewood and rice are; if you don't raise a child you don't know your parents' kindness

不怕不识字，就怕不识人

búpà bù shízì, jiù pà bù shí rén

no fear of being unable to read, only of being unable to read people

不怕不识货，就怕货比货

búpà bù shíhuò, jiù pà huò bǐ huò

don't fear not knowing goods, only fear goods compared with goods

不怕卖不了，就怕货不好

búpà mài bù liǎo, jiù pà huò bù hǎo

don't fear it won't sell, fear the goods aren't good

不患人不知，单怕不知人

bú huàn rén bùzhī, dān pà bùzhī rén

don't worry that others don't know you; only fear that you don't know others

不愉快的感觉永远不好。

Bù yúkuài de gǎnjué yǒngyuǎn bù hǎo.

An unpleasant feeling is always bad.

不懂就别胡乱下结论。

Bù dǒng jiù bié húluàn xià jiélùn.

If you don't understand, don't jump to conclusions recklessly.

不懂就用搜索引擎查查。

Bù dǒng jiù yòng sōusuǒyǐnqíng zhāzhā.

If you don't understand, look it up on a search engine.

不懂法律，就容易吃亏。

Bù dǒng fǎlǜ, jiù róngyì chīkuī.

If you don't understand the law, you're easily put at a disadvantage.

不，我不买它。

Bù, wǒ bù mǎi tā.

Nope, I'm not buying it.

不，我不懂。

Bù, wǒ bù dǒng.

No, I don't understand.

不，我是英国人。

Bù, wǒ shì Yīngguórén.

No, I am English.

不，我没写。

Bù, wǒ méi xiě.

No, I didn't write it.

不，我没去。

Bù, wǒ méi qù.

No, I didn't go.

不，我还是喜欢吃蔬菜。

Bù, wǒ háishi xǐhuan chī shūcài.

No, I still prefer eating vegetables.

不挨骂长不大

bù áimà zhǎng bú dà

without being scolded, one doesn't grow up

不换位思考，很难懂别人。

Bú huànwèisīkǎo, hěn nándǒng biéren.

If you don't put yourself in their shoes, it's hard to understand others.

不提英语，他还会说德语和法语。

Bù tí Yīngyǔ, tā hái huì shuō Déyǔ hé Fǎyǔ.

He knows German and French, not to mention English.

不撞南墙不知道墙硬，不尝酸梨不知道梨酸

bú zhuàng Nán qiáng bù zhīdào qiáng yìng, bù cháng suān lí bù zhīdào lí suān

until you hit the south wall you don't know it's hard; until you taste a sour pear you don't know it's sour

「不方便」的相反词是「方便」。

「Bù fāngbiàn」de xiāngfǎn cí shì「fāngbiàn」.

The opposite of "inconvenient" is "convenient".

不早点出发势必会迟到。

Bù zǎodiǎn chūfā shìbì huì chídào.

If we don't set off earlier, we're bound to be late.

不明白你在担心什么。

Bù míngbai nǐ zài dānxīn shénme.

I don't see what you're so concerned about.

不，是二手的。

Bù, shì èrshǒu de.

No, it's second-hand.

不是的，你不臭。

Bú shì de, nǐ bú chòu.

No, you don't stink.

不是知音话不投

bú shì zhīyīn huà bù tóu

if not a kindred spirit, words don't fit

不比不知道，一比吓一跳

bù bǐ bù zhīdào, yì bǐ xiàyítiào

without comparing you don't know; once you compare, you get a fright