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不服 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
不服bùfúnot to accept sthHSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, rank #48792, Very Hard
不服bùfúto want to have sth overruled or changedHSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, rank #48792, Very Hard
不服bùfúto refuse to obey or complyHSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, rank #48792, Very Hard
不服bùfúto refuse to accept as finalHSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, rank #48792, Very Hard
不服bùfúto remain unconvinced byHSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, rank #48792, Very Hard
不服bùfúnot to give in toHSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, rank #48792, Very Hard
bùfú(bu4fu2)bu fu T4
  1. 1not to accept sth
  2. 2to want to have sth overruled or changed
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March 24, 2026

不服bùfú(bu4fu2)

不服 (bù fú) means to refuse to accept something, often related to a decision or authority. It is commonly used in contexts where someone disagrees with a judgment or feels unjustly treated, indicating a desire for change or further discussion.

Strokes12Frequency#48792DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, showing respect for authority is vital, so 不服 can carry significant weight, especially in discussions about hierarchy. It may reflect a clash between traditional values and modern perspectives on individual rights.

Memory tip

Imagine a 'bamboo' (bù) that stands tall and firm against the wind, refusing to bend or break. The character '服' (fú) resembles a person bowing down, but here, the bamboo refuses to bow, symbolizing resistance and non-compliance.

Meanings of 不服

bùfú(bu4fu2)
1not to accept sth
2to want to have sth overruled or changed
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 不服

不服Simplified
12Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

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AI study notes for 不服

Quick Contrast

不服 (bù fú) vs 反对 (fǎn duì) — use 不服 when refusing to accept a decision or authority, while 反对 is more about opposing or disagreeing with an idea or proposal.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 不服 with 不同 (bù tóng), which means 'different.' While 不服 expresses disagreement or refusal to accept, 不同 simply indicates a lack of similarity. This term is more common in informal contexts and can also imply emotional resistance.

HSK Study Tips

Although 不服 is not an official HSK word, understanding it enhances comprehension of disagreements and arguments in Mandarin. Focus on using it correctly in conversations about disputes or decisions, linking it with other HSK vocabulary related to opinions or authority.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse 不服 in contexts where acceptance is expected. For instance, saying '我不服这个决定' (wǒ bù fú zhè ge juédìng) to mean 'I accept this decision' is incorrect; it should be used to express disagreement, not acceptance.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 不服

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Component characters

不bù(negative prefix)
HSK 14 strokes一
View full entry
服fúclothes
HSK 68 strokes月
View full entry

How to say not to accept sth in Chinese

“not to accept sth” in Chinese is不服bùfú

不服 (bù fú) means to refuse to accept something, often related to a decision or authority. It is commonly used in contexts where someone disagrees with a judgment or feels unjustly treated, indicating a desire for change or further discussion.

When to use 不服

Learners often confuse 不服 with 不同 (bù tóng), which means 'different.' While 不服 expresses disagreement or refusal to accept, 不同 simply indicates a lack of similarity. This term is more common in informal contexts and can also imply emotional resistance.

不服 or something close to it

不服 (bù fú) vs 反对 (fǎn duì) — use 不服 when refusing to accept a decision or authority, while 反对 is more about opposing or disagreeing with an idea or proposal.

What learners get wrong

Learners often misuse 不服 in contexts where acceptance is expected. For instance, saying '我不服这个决定' (wǒ bù fú zhè ge juédìng) to mean 'I accept this decision' is incorrect; it should be used to express disagreement, not acceptance.

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不
服

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Frequently asked questions about 不服

While 不服 can be understood in formal contexts, it's more commonly used in informal discussions about disagreements.

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