10 negative expressions other than “不” in Chinese

好什么呀 (hǎo shén me ya)

"好什么呀 (hǎo shěn me ya)", which means "not at all", is an expression for denying in spoken Chinese. One often uses this phrase to deny praise from others. If the something else other than the speaker is praised, the speaker shows his or her scorn when commenting on it with the phrase. For example:

"好什么呀"是表示否定的口语表达，意思是"一点儿也不好"。对某种称赞不以为然时，会用这个短语加以否定。这种称赞如果是针对他物的，说话人往往带有轻蔑的意味进行评论。例如：

A: 这部电影真精彩！

zhè bù diàn yǐng zhēn jīng cǎi!

This movie was amazing!

B: 好什么呀！没什么意思。

hǎo shén me ya! méi shén me yì sī.

Not at all! It's not fun!

好什么好 (hǎo shén me hǎo)

"好什么好 (hǎo shén me hǎo)" is similar to "好什么呀 (hǎo shén me ya)", while the former is used in an interrogatory tone which results in stronger negation. For example:

"好什么好"与"好什么呀"意思大致相同，但"好什么好"带有质问的语气，因而否定的意思更强。例如：

A: 这件衣服好漂亮！

zhè jiàn yī fú hǎo piāo liàng!

It is a beautiful dress!

B: 好什么好，你觉得好你穿！

hǎo shén me hǎo, nǐ jiào dé hǎo nǐ chuān!

Not at all! Take it if you like.

什么呀 (shén me ya)

When something is thought to be untrue or unreasonable, "什么呀 (shén me ya)" often comes in handy with dissatisfaction and scorn. For example:

当有人认为某种说法不符合实际或者没有道理时常说"什么呀"，语气中带有不满、轻蔑的态度。例如：

A: 这种葡萄看上去很好吃。

zhè zhǒng pú táo kàn shàng qù hěn hǎo chī.

These grapes look delicious.

B: 什么呀，非常酸！

shén me ya, fēi cháng suān!

Actually not. It's very sour.

哪儿的事儿呀 (nǎ ér de shì ér ya)

"哪儿的事儿呀 (nǎ ér de shì ér ya)" means "not the case". When the speaker thinks what someone says is groundless, he often uses "哪儿的事儿呀 (nǎ ér de shì ér ya)" to deny it. This phrase is often used in the reproachful tone, supplemented by explanatory words. For example:

"哪儿的事儿呀"的意思是"根本不是这样"。当说话人认为对方所说的事情毫无根据时常说"哪儿的事儿呀"表示否定，通常带有责备的语气，后面一般有解释的话。例如：

哪儿的事儿呀！杯子是他爸不小心碰碎的，不是孩子做的事！

nǎ ér de shì ér ya! bēi zi shì tā bà bú xiǎo xīn pèng suì de, bú shì hái zǐ zuò de shì!

What are you talking about? His dad broke the cup by accident, not the kid!

哪儿跟哪儿呀 (nǎ ér gēn nǎ ér ya)

"哪儿跟哪儿呀 (nǎ ér gēn nǎ ér ya)" is used to express that someone is wrong about the relations between things and what he says is groundless or nonsense. Its use is similar to "哪儿的事儿呀 (nǎ ér de shì ér ya)". For example:

"哪儿跟哪儿呀"是说话人认为对方搞错了事物间的关系，对方所说的事情是没有根据的，或根本不存在的。它的用法与"哪儿的事儿呀"大致相同。例如：

你这是哪儿跟哪儿呀！人家早就有男朋友了，别瞎说了！

nǐ zhè shì nǎ ér gēn nǎ ér ya! rén jiā zǎo jiù yǒu nán péng yǒu le, bié xiā shuō le!

Nonsense! I've already had a boyfriend. Stop blabbing!

谁跟谁呀 (shuí gēn shuí ya)

"谁跟谁呀 (shuí gēn shuí ya)" means "you're welcome". It can be used when the speaker thinks that gratitude or apology from others is unnecessary. This phrase is often used among acquaintances like friends, classmates, colleagues or neighbors. For example:

"谁跟谁呀"的意思是"不用客气"。当说话人认为对方的致谢或道歉不必要时，就可以用"谁跟谁呀"。这一短语用于朋友、同学、同事、邻居等熟人之间。例如：

咱们谁跟谁呀，我帮你不需任何_理由！

zán men shuí gēn shuí ya, wǒ bāng nǐ bú xū rèn hé lǐ yóu!

We are friends! I don't need any reason to help you!

得了吧 (dé le ba)

"得了吧 (dé le ba)" is used when the speaker thinks someone's words are ridiculous or unrealizable. This phrase sounds impolite, which is usually used between acquaintances. For example:

"得了吧"是说话人认为某人的说法是荒谬的或无法实现的时使用的。这是一种很不客气的说法，多用于熟人之间。例如：

得了吧，就你现在的成绩，比赛只会得最后一名！

dé le ba, jiù nǐ xiàn zài de chéng jì, bǐ sài zhī huì de zuì hòu yī míng!

Come on! In view of your current performance, you will only be the last in the competition.

算了吧 (suàn le ba)

"算了吧 (suàn le ba)" is similar to "得了吧 (dé le ba)", but in the moderate tone. It is often used to discourage someone from doing something. For example:

"算了吧"与"得了吧"的用法基本相同，但语气较为和缓，常带有劝阻的意味。例如：

算了吧，这种天气登山太危险了。

suàn le ba, zhè zhǒng tiān qì dēng shān tài wēi xiǎn le.

Forget it. It's too dangerous to climb the mountain in this weather.

别逗了 (bié dòu le)

"别逗了 (bié dòu le)" is used to deny someone's words politely. It comes in handy when the speaker disagrees to others' words or thinks what they are saying is simply a joke. For example:

"别逗了"是一种委婉地否定他人的话的表达，当说话人不同意对方的某种说法，认为对方的话简直是开玩笑时会说"别逗了"。例如：

A: 我的字写得不好看。

wǒ de zì xiě dé bú hǎo kàn.

My handwriting is terrible.

B: 别逗了，谁不知道你练了好几年的字了！

bié dòu le, shuí bú zhī dào nǐ liàn le hǎo jǐ nián de zì le!

Are you kidding me? Everyone knows you have been practicing writing for several years!

天知道 (tiān zhī dào)

"天知道 (tiān zhī dào)" means "have no idea" or "God knows", which usually implies dissatisfaction and complaint. For example:

"天知道"表示"不知道"的意思，语气中常带有不满和埋怨。例如：

A: 他怎么又生气了？

tā zěn me yòu shēng qì le?

Why did he get angry again?

B: 天知道，这几天他总是失控的。

tiān zhī dào, zhè jǐ tiān tā zǒng shì shī kòng de.

God knows. He has been out of temper these days.

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