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不在乎 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
不在乎bùzàihunot to careHSK 4, unknown, 15 strokes, rank #1193, Medium
bùzàihu(bu4zai4hu5)bu zai hu T4
  1. 1not to care
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March 24, 2026

不在乎bùzàihu(bu4zai4hu5)

不在乎 means 'not to care' or 'to be indifferent.' It's commonly used to express a lack of concern about something, whether it be a person's opinion, an outcome, or a situation. The phrase can convey both a casual attitude and a deeper emotional detachment, depending on the context.

Strokes15Frequency#1193DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, expressing indifference can sometimes be viewed as a lack of commitment or interest, which contrasts with the Western emphasis on personal freedom and individual choice. Understanding this nuance can help learners navigate social interactions more effectively.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person shrugging their shoulders while saying '不在乎' (bu4 zai4 hu5), indicating they don't care about the situation at hand. The character 不 (bu) means 'not,' 在 (zai) means 'to be present,' and 虎 (hu) sounds like 'who,' creating a scene where someone is saying 'not present' or 'who cares?'

Meanings of 不在乎

bùzàihu(bu4zai4hu5)
1not to care
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About 不在乎

不在乎Simplified
15Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1

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AI Study Notes for 不在乎

Quick Contrast

不在意 (bù zàiyì) — use 不在乎 when expressing indifference to something, while 不在意 implies a lack of concern but can suggest a slight acknowledgment of the matter.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 不在乎 with similar phrases like 不在意 (bu4 zai4 yi4), which means 'not to mind' but carries a slightly different connotation. This phrase is informal and can be used in both casual and conversational settings. Pay attention to the tones, as mispronouncing them can lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

Although 不在乎 is not an HSK vocabulary item, it features commonly used elements like 不 (not) and 在 (to be). Students at HSK level 3 or above should focus on how this phrase fits into expressing personal feelings and opinions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 不在乎 with 不在意, leading to subtle miscommunications. For example, saying '我不在乎你' (I don't care about you) can sound harsh, whereas '我不在意你' (I don't mind you) is softer and more considerate.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 不在乎

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Component Characters

不bù(negative prefix)
HSK 14 strokes一
View full entry
在zài(located) at
HSK 16 strokes土
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乎hū(classical particle similar to 於
HSK 65 strokes丿
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How to say not to care in Chinese

“not to care” in Chinese is不在乎bùzàihu

不在乎 means 'not to care' or 'to be indifferent.' It's commonly used to express a lack of concern about something, whether it be a person's opinion, an outcome, or a situation. The phrase can convey both a casual attitude and a deeper emotional detachment, depending on the context.

When to use 不在乎

Be careful not to confuse 不在乎 with similar phrases like 不在意 (bu4 zai4 yi4), which means 'not to mind' but carries a slightly different connotation. This phrase is informal and can be used in both casual and conversational settings. Pay attention to the tones, as mispronouncing them can lead to misunderstandings.

不在乎 or something close to it

不在意 (bù zàiyì) — use 不在乎 when expressing indifference to something, while 不在意 implies a lack of concern but can suggest a slight acknowledgment of the matter.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 不在乎 with 不在意, leading to subtle miscommunications. For example, saying '我不在乎你' (I don't care about you) can sound harsh, whereas '我不在意你' (I don't mind you) is softer and more considerate.

Write 不在乎

不
在
乎

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Cultural Notes for 不在乎

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, saying you don't care often emphasizes independence or personal choice, while in Chinese contexts, it may imply a level of social responsibility and consideration for others.

Frequently Asked Questions about 不在乎

No, 不在乎 is generally informal and used in casual conversation.

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