Meanings of 非
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Podcast: 非
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AI study notes for 非
Common mistakes include confusing 非 with its more formal counterpart 不是 (bù shì), which means 'is not.' While 非 can be used in colloquial contexts to express insistence, it may sound abrupt in formal settings. Pay attention to tone; using it incorrectly can change the meaning significantly.
At HSK Level 5, it's beneficial to understand how 非 interacts with other negation forms like 没 (méi) and 不 (bù). Focus on practicing sentences that incorporate 非 to convey disagreement or rejection.
Learners often confuse 非 with other negation words like 不 (bù) and 不是 (bù shì), leading to phrases like '这不是非' instead of the correct '这不是.' Remember that 非 is best used in specific contexts rather than general statements.
Pronunciation of 非
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Jason Explains 非 to you
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Learning Lab
Knowing 非 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
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Etymology of 非
Pictograph of two wings facing opposite directions.
Two bird's wings opposed; two people back-to-back
Origin
What kind of character is 非?
How to say to not be in Chinese
“to not be” in Chinese is非
The character 非 (fēi) primarily means 'not' or 'to be wrong.' It is often used to negate verbs or adjectives, indicating opposition or incorrectness. In various contexts, it can imply a strong disapproval or insistence on an alternative perspective.
When to use 非
Common mistakes include confusing 非 with its more formal counterpart 不是 (bù shì), which means 'is not.' While 非 can be used in colloquial contexts to express insistence, it may sound abrupt in formal settings. Pay attention to tone; using it incorrectly can change the meaning significantly.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 非 with other negation words like 不 (bù) and 不是 (bù shì), leading to phrases like '这不是非' instead of the correct '这不是.' Remember that 非 is best used in specific contexts rather than general statements.
Write 非
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Practice writing 非 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar patterns of 非
非 carries 13 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
她____常漂亮。
She is extremely beautiful.
Example sentences for 非 (10)
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Word Family of 非
Characters with 非
What does 罪 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 非
Not always; while 非 means 'not,' it is more suitable for formal or literary contexts, whereas 不 (bù) is used in everyday conversation.
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