没 méi not
not; not have
How to remember 没: 氵 water + 殳 weapon = not. The swimmer rushes out of the water when lightning, the storm's weapon, hits the lake, and does not go back in.
Component breakdown
形声 · Meaning + sound
originally 水 + 𠬛
One part gives the meaning, the other gives the sound.
没 = 氵 water + 殳 weapon
- 氵 water meaning
- 殳 weapon shape only
The swimmer rushes out of the water when lightning, the storm's weapon, hits the lake, and does not go back in.
How it came to be
Water gives the meaning; the right part gave the sound, in an older shape that has since changed.
How it is used
- Negates having and completed actions: 没有钱 (méiyǒu qián) have no money, 没去 (méi qù) didn't go.
- Use 不 (bù) for the present, future, habits and wishes; 没 for 有 and for the past. It never pairs with 了.
Words with 没
- 没关系méiguānxìit doesn't matterHSK 1
- 没事méishìit's not importantHSK 1
- 没有méiyǒuto not haveHSK 1
- 没意思méiyìsiboringHSK 2
- 没法儿méifǎrcan't do anything about itHSK 5
- 淹没yānmòto submergeHSK 6
- 没准儿méizhǔnrmaybe; perhaps; not sure (spoken, erhua)HSK 7
- 没完没了méiwán-méiliǎowithout endHSK 7
- 没收mòshōuto confiscateHSK 7
- 没落mòluòto declineHSK 7
- 埋没máimòto engulfHSK 8
- 没劲méijìnto have no strengthHSK 9
- 没辙méizhéat one's wit's endHSK 9
Example sentences
- 没有车，他只好走路。 Méiyǒu chē, tā zhǐhǎo zǒulù.Without a car, he is forced to walk.
- 我没有实际经验。 Wǒ méiyǒu shíjì jīngyàn.I don't have practical experience.
- 输一场比赛没关系。 Shū yì chǎng bǐsài méiguānxi.It doesn't matter if you lose one game.
- 即使失败了也没关系。 Jíshǐ shībàile yě méiguānxi.It doesn't matter even if you fail.