并不 / 并没有
not at all; actually not: denying what was expected
Structure
并 不／没有 …
What it means
“Not at all”, “actually not”: denies something the listener might expect or assume.
How it is built
Subject + 并 + 不／没有 + verb／adjective: 这个问题并不简单 (This problem is not simple at all).
When to use it
Use it to correct an assumption: 政策的调整并没有带来预期的效果. It often pairs with 而是: 并不是 A，而是 B.
Watch out
并 only goes before a negative and adds “contrary to what you might assume”: ✗ 这个问题并简单。 ✓ 这个问题并不简单。
Examples
政策的调整并没有带来预期的效果。
The policy changes did not in fact bring the expected results.
这个问题并不简单。
This problem is not simple at all.
Learn this in Lesson 27 · HSK 5–6: 人口与老龄化 (Population and ageing)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. This lesson is free.
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