非 (fēi) — (verb, formal/literary) to not be; to be not; (adverb in the pattern 非...不/才/不可) absolutely must; simply must; (prefix) non-; un-; in-; used to form negative adjectives or nouns
Definition
非 is a formal/literary negator and prefix — far more written than 不, which is everyday speech. In the pattern 非…不/不可 it means 'absolutely must', stronger than 坚持 or insisting.
(verb, formal/literary) to not beto be not(adverb in the pattern 非...不/才/不可) absolutely mustsimply must(prefix) non-un-in-used to form negative adjectives or nouns
Easily confused
Examples
- ，。Zhè shì fēi zhèng shì huì yì, bú yòng chuān zhèng zhuāng.This is an informal meeting; you don't need to wear formal attire.
- ，非。Yào jiǎn féi, jiù fēi yùn dòng bù kě.If you want to lose weight, you absolutely must exercise.
- 非，。Tā fēi yào zì jǐ kāi chē, wǒ men dōu hěn dān xīn.He insists on driving himself, and we are all worried.
Grammar
Appears in
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