adverb HSK 2
not very · not too · not particularly
Meaning
不太 is a common adverb pattern that softens negation. It means 'not very' or 'not particularly' and is used to express a mild or moderate degree of negation, making statements less absolute than using 不 alone.
Usage
Native speakers use 不太 frequently in everyday conversation to politely express something is below average or not quite meeting expectations. It's softer and more diplomatic than a direct 不, making it appropriate for polite contexts. Commonly appears before adjectives and psychological verbs like 喜欢, 懂, 清楚.
Examples
- 01我不太喜欢吃辣的。.I don't particularly like eating spicy food.
- 02今天天气不太好。.The weather today is not very good.
Characters
Common collocations
- 不太好not very good
- 不太清楚not too clear, not quite sure
- 不太喜欢don't particularly like
- 不太懂don't really understand
Antonyms
Origin
Combines 不 (negation) with 太 (excessive degree) to create a softened negation meaning 'not excessively' or 'not very.'