Meaning
非 is a classical Chinese negation that means 'not' or 'non-'. In modern Mandarin, it appears primarily as a prefix to create formal negations (like 非法 'illegal') or in literary expressions. As a standalone word, it's quite formal and archaic, though it survives in certain fixed phrases and chengyu.
Usage
In everyday speech, 非 is rarely used alone; speakers prefer 不 or 没. However, 非 is extremely common as a prefix in formal, written, or technical vocabulary to mean 'non-' or 'un-'. It also appears in literary expressions like 非常 (very) and philosophical contexts (是非 = right and wrong). The standalone usage 'X非Y' (X is not Y) sounds classical or literary.
Examples
- 01这件事非他不可。.This matter must be handled by him (no one else will do).
- 02他并非故意迟到的。.He really wasn't late on purpose.
Common collocations
- 非...不可...must, have to
- 非但not only
- 非得must, have to
- 并非really not, actually not
Antonyms
Origin
The character 非 originally depicted two wings flying in opposite directions, symbolizing opposition or contradiction. This visual metaphor extended to mean 'wrong' or 'not', representing things that go against each other.