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永不 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
永不yǒngbùneverHSK 7, unknown, 9 strokes, rank #4246, Very Hard
永不yǒngbùwill neverHSK 7, unknown, 9 strokes, rank #4246, Very Hard
yǒngbù(yong3bu4)yong bu T3
  1. 1never
  2. 2will never
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March 24, 2026

永不yǒngbù(yong3bu4)

永不 (yǒng bù) means 'never' or 'will never', indicating a strong commitment to not doing something at any time in the future. It is commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese to express a definitive refusal or an unchanging state of affairs.

Strokes9Frequency#4246DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

The phrase 永不 is often found in Chinese proverbs and sayings, emphasizing the importance of commitment and integrity in cultural values. For example, it can be used in the context of promises made in relationships or business dealings.

Memory tip

Think of 永 (yǒng) as a river that flows forever, symbolizing something eternal, and 不 (bù) as a barrier that stops it. Together, they create the image of an eternal barrier, representing the idea of 'never'.

Meanings of 永不

yǒngbù(yong3bu4)
1never
2will never
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 永不

永不Simplified
9Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 永不

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AI study notes for 永不

Quick Contrast

从不 (cóng bù, never) - use 永不 for a stronger, more absolute refusal compared to 从不, which can imply a habitual absence.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 永不 with 绝不 (jué bù), which also means 'never' but carries a stronger, more emphatic tone. It is generally used in informal contexts, so in formal writing, consider using alternatives like '绝对不会' (jué duì bù huì).

HSK Study Tips

While 永不 is not officially listed in the HSK vocabulary, it can be connected to HSK Level 3 words like '不会' (bù huì - will not). Focus on understanding the use of negative structures in sentences, as this will help in grasping the meaning of 永不 in context.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly say '永不会' (yǒng bù huì) thinking it's correct; the proper form is 永不 (yǒng bù). Also, some confuse it with similar phrases like '从不' (cóng bù), which means 'never' in a different context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 永不

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Component characters

永yǒngforever
HSK 65 strokes水
View full entry
不bù(negative prefix)
HSK 14 strokes一
View full entry

How to say never in Chinese

“never” in Chinese is永不yǒngbù

永不 (yǒng bù) means 'never' or 'will never', indicating a strong commitment to not doing something at any time in the future. It is commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese to express a definitive refusal or an unchanging state of affairs.

When to use 永不

Be careful not to confuse 永不 with 绝不 (jué bù), which also means 'never' but carries a stronger, more emphatic tone. It is generally used in informal contexts, so in formal writing, consider using alternatives like '绝对不会' (jué duì bù huì).

永不 or something close to it

从不 (cóng bù, never) - use 永不 for a stronger, more absolute refusal compared to 从不, which can imply a habitual absence.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly say '永不会' (yǒng bù huì) thinking it's correct; the proper form is 永不 (yǒng bù). Also, some confuse it with similar phrases like '从不' (cóng bù), which means 'never' in a different context.

Write 永不

永
不

Practice writing 永不 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Frequently asked questions about 永不

Yes, but be mindful of the context; in more formal situations, consider using stronger alternatives like '绝对不会'.

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