莫 / 莫不

莫不: none does not, so all. 莫: nobody; do not

What it means

Classical negatives. 莫不 is “none does not”, so “all”. 莫 alone is “nobody”, or “do not”.

How it is built

Subject + 莫不 + verb (all do): 这些话莫不道出了人生的道理 (Every one of these sayings states a truth about life). 莫 + verb (don’t): 闲人莫入.

When to use it

Found in idioms, signs and formal writing; 莫不 is like 无不. Negative commands: 勿 (请勿打扰), 莫 (闲人莫入, 莫谈国事), 毋 (宁缺毋滥), 休 (休想). 莫过于 = nothing beats: 莫过于帮助别人.

Watch out

Don’t read 莫不 as a negative: 大家莫不赞成 means everyone agrees. As “don’t” in everyday speech, use 别 or 不要; 莫 sounds literary or regional.

Examples

Also in this lesson

• 所 + 动词
• 动词 + 于