Emphasizing a Negation with 又 (yòu)
又 (yòu) in front of a negative (不/没) gives it a defensive, often accusatory kick — “it’s not even…!”, “it’s not like…”: 我又不是小孩子 (“it’s not like I’m a child!”). 又 + 不/没 + Predicate, frequently setting up a rhetorical jab (…干吗？ “…so why…?”). Different from the 又…又… of “both…and.”
Why this trips learners up
You already negate with 不 (bù) and 没 (méi). To give that negation an attitude — defensive, impatient, pushing back — put 又 (yòu) in front of it: 又 + 不/没 + Predicate. It means roughly “it’s not even… / it’s not like…”: 我又不是小孩子 (“it’s not like I’m a child!”), 他又没答应你 (“he didn’t even promise you”). The plain 我不是小孩子 just states a fact; the 又 version pushes back at the listener.
It’s the same character as the 又…又… of “both…and,” but a completely different job. Here 又 doesn’t mean “again” or “also” — it injects tone. The flavour is 任性 / 抱怨 (rènxìng / bàoyuàn) — willful, complaining — and it very often teams up with a rhetorical question (干吗 / 怎么 / 什么) to land the jab: 又没下雨，带伞干吗？(“it’s not even raining — why bring an umbrella?”), 你又不忙，怎么不来帮我？(“you’re not even busy — how come you won’t help?”).
Three things to get right. First, 又 sits before the negative — 又不 / 又没, never 不又 / 没又. Second, the negative is required: this emphatic force only exists with 不/没. Drop it and the “it’s not even” meaning vanishes. Third, you still choose 不 vs 没 by the normal rule — 不 for the general/non-past, 没 for the completed or experienced (so with 过 it’s 没: 我又没吃过).
The structure
Colour key
Each colour marks one grammatical role — and the same colour means the same role on every page in the Lab.
Examples in context
Real-world sentences, easiest first. Toggle pinyin or the translation, tap any word to see its role, or play the audio.
Tap a word to see its grammatical role.
wǒ 我 Subject yòu 又 Pattern bù 不 Negation shì 是 Verb xiǎo háizi 小孩子 Object
It’s not like I’m a child (又不是 — the classic defensive line).
yòu 又 Pattern bù 不 Negation shì 是 Verb nǐ de cuò 你的错 Object bié dàoqiàn le 别道歉了 Verb
It’s not even your fault — stop apologizing (subject dropped).
zhè jiàn yīfu 这件衣服 Subject yòu 又 Pattern bù 不 Negation guì 贵 Adjective mǎi ba 买吧 Verb
This isn’t even expensive — just buy it (又不 + adjective).
tā 他 Subject yòu 又 Pattern méi 没 Negation dāying 答应 Verb nǐ 你 Object nǐ jí shénme 你急什么 Verb
He didn’t even promise you — what are you so anxious about? (又没 + rhetorical jab).
wǒ 我 Subject yòu 又 Pattern méi 没 Negation shuō 说 Verb nǐ 你 Object nǐ jǐnzhāng shénme 你紧张什么 Verb
I wasn’t even talking about you — why so jumpy? (又没).
zhōumò 周末 Time yòu 又 Pattern bù 不 Negation shàngkè 上课 Verb nǐ zěnme qǐ zhème zǎo 你怎么起这么早 Verb
There’s no class on the weekend — how come you’re up so early? (又不 + accusatory question).
zhè 这 Subject yòu 又 Pattern bù 不 Negation shì 是 Verb shénme dà shì 什么大事 Object nǐ bié fàng zài xīn shàng 你别放在心上 Verb
This isn’t even a big deal — don’t take it to heart (又不是).
wǒ 我 Subject yòu 又 Pattern méi 没 Negation bī 逼 Verb nǐ qù 你去 Object shì nǐ zìjǐ yuànyì de 是你自己愿意的 Verb
It’s not like I forced you to go — you wanted to yourself (又没 — defensive).
Common mistakes
Why it happens: 又 comes BEFORE the negative: 又不 / 又没. It’s 我又不是小孩子, never 我不又是小孩子. 又 hugs the 不/没.
Why it happens: This 又 needs the negative to work — drop 不/没 and the “it’s not even” emphasis disappears (and 又 reverts to “again”). It’s 我又不知道 (“it’s not like I know!”), not 我又知道.
Why it happens: Pick 不 vs 没 by the usual rule: with 过 (experience) or a completed action, use 没 — 我又没吃过 (“it’s not like I’ve tried it”), not 我又不吃过.
Compare & contrast
| 又 + 不/没 — emphatic (“it’s not even…!”) | 不/没 — plain negation (neutral) | The difference |
|---|---|---|
| 我又不欠你钱wǒ yòu bù qiàn nǐ qián | 我不欠你钱wǒ bù qiàn nǐ qián | 我又不欠你钱 = “it’s not like I owe you money!” (pushing back). 我不欠你钱 = “I don’t owe you money” (a flat statement). |
| 他又没生气tā yòu méi shēngqì | 他没生气tā méi shēngqì | 他又没生气 = “it’s not like he’s angry!” (defending him). 他没生气 = “he isn’t angry” (neutral). |
Try it yourself
Say “This isn’t even a big deal.” — 又 + 不 + predicate.
Related patterns
Quick reference card
Emphasizing a Negation with 又 (yòu) grammar.merrymandarin.com A pocket summary — print it and keep it by your desk.