Grammar · Verbs
不 and 没
Two words for not. 不 is for habits, wishes and the future. 没 is for what did not happen, and for 有.
不, bù, negates what is generally true or what you intend: I do not drink coffee, I am not going tomorrow. 没, méi, negates what did not happen, and it is the only way to say not have: 没有, méiyǒu. 不有 does not exist.
Examples
我不喝咖啡
wǒ bù hē kāfēi
I don't drink coffee
a habit
我没喝咖啡
wǒ méi hē kāfēi
I didn't have the coffee
it did not happen
我没有钱
wǒ méiyǒu qián
I have no money
明天我不去
míngtiān wǒ bú qù
I'm not going tomorrow
a decision, so 不
Watch out: the mistake this causes
Saying 不有. The negative of 有 is always 没有.