并

bìng

Meaning

并 is an adverb placed before 不 or 没有 to strengthen a negative, often correcting a misunderstanding.

Often translated as “not really”, “not at all”, “actually not”, “by no means”.

Basic structure

并 + 不 / 没有 + Verb or Adjective

Examples

其(Qí)实(shí)，人(rén)们(men)将(jiāng)来(lái)做(zuò)什(shén)么(me)工(gōng)作(zuò)可(kě)能(néng)和(hé)上(shàng)学(xué)学(xué)的(de)专(zhuān)业(yè)并(bìng)没(méi)有(yǒu)太(tài)大(dà)关(guān)系(xi)。

In fact, what work people do later may have very little to do with what they studied.

我(Wǒ)原(yuán)来(lái)以(yǐ)为(wéi)做(zuò)生(shēng)意(yi)很(hěn)简(jiǎn)单(dān)，后(hòu)来(lái)才(cái)发(fā)现(xiàn)其(qí)实(shí)并(bìng)不(bù)容(róng)易(yì)。

I used to think business was simple; later I found it isn't easy at all.

根(Gēn)据(jù)调(diào)查(chá)，人(rén)每(měi)天(tiān)晚(wǎn)上(shang)最(zuì)少(shǎo)应(yīng)该(gāi)睡(shuì)七(qī)个(gè)小(xiǎo)时(shí)，但(dàn)是(shì)这(zhè)并(bìng)不(bù)适(shì)合(hé)每(měi)一(yī)个(gè)人(rén)。

Research says people should sleep at least seven hours a night, but this isn't suitable for everyone.

并 vs. 不

这(Zhè)个(ge)工(gōng)作(zuò)不(bù)容(róng)易(yì)。

This job isn't easy.

这(Zhè)个(ge)工(gōng)作(zuò)并(bìng)不(bù)容(róng)易(yì)。

This job is actually not easy at all.

并 nearly always goes with 不 or 没有: 并不, 并没有, 并不是, 并非. It is not used in affirmative sentences — 并很好 and 并喜欢 are wrong.