Learner's definition of NOT
1
a —
used to form the negative of modal verbs (such as “should” and “could”) and auxiliary verbs (such as “do” and “have”)不,没有(用于构成情态动词should、could及助动词do、have等的否定形式) -
He would/could not stay.他不会/不能留下来。
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We have not spoken with them.我们还没有和他们交谈。
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It may not be fast, but it's reliable.它可能速度不快,但是可靠。
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That kind of behavior should not be allowed.不应该允许这种行为。
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He did not seem to care.他似乎并不在乎。
b —
used before a verb or clause to make it negative or give it an opposite meaning不,不要(用在动词或从句前表示否定) -
They gave us the option of not attending.他们给我们的选择是不出席。
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She told me not to do it.她告诉我别这样做。
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You are not to go there without permission.未经允许你不许去那里。
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He seemed not to care.他似乎并不在乎。
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It's odd, but that's not to say [=that does not mean] that it's bad.这很古怪,但并不意味着不好。
— see also not to mention at 1mention 2
a —
used with a word or phrase to make it negative or give it an opposite meaning不,没有(与单词或短语连用表示否定) -
The books are not here.这些书不在这里。
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No, that's not what I said.不,那不是我说的。
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That's not funny!可不是闹着玩的!
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That is not necessarily true.那未必是真的。
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You're not always right.你并非总是对的。
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You are not the only one who is worried.你不是唯一担心的人。
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She is not (at all/very) pleased/happy.她(一点也/非常)不高兴/不开心。
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I'm not happy or sad, just bored.我不高兴也不难过,只是无聊而已。
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It is not as easy as it seems.事情似乎没有看上去那么简单。
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Things are not going well.事情进展不顺利。
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He is not guilty.他没有罪。
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He lives not far from here.他住得离这儿不远。
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“Are we there yet?” “Not quite.”“我们到了吗?”“还没有。”
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“Is there any left?” “Not much.”“还有剩余的吗?”“不多了。”
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It is not just/only/merely [=more than just] a novel; it is a literary classic.它不仅仅是一部小说,更是一部文学经典。
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Not many [=few] people showed up.来的人不多。
— see also not a few at 1few b —
used with a negative word to make a positive statement与否定词连用表肯定 -
Their request is not unreasonable. [=their request is reasonable]他们的要求并非不合理。
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His experience is not unusual. [=others have had similar experiences]他的经历没什么特别的。
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“What do you think of the food?” “It's not bad.” [=it's pretty good]“你认为这食物怎么样?”“相当不错。”
c informal + humorous —
used humorously at the end of a positive statement to show that you really meant the opposite才怪(用在肯定陈述后,作诙谐用法) 3
: less or fewer than不到;少于 -
He was standing not six feet away from me.他在离我不到六英尺的地方站着。
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The bullet passed not five inches from my head!子弹从距离我的头不到五英寸的地方飞过!
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Not all of us agree. [=some of us do not agree]并非我们大家都同意!
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Not everybody finds her work interesting. [=some people find her work boring]不是每个人都觉得她的作品有趣。
4
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used to refer to a possible situation, condition, etc., that is different from or opposite to another situation, condition, etc.并非(用于指可能存在相反情况) —
often used in the phrase or not常用于短语or not -
Believe it or not [=whether you believe me or don't believe me], we were there just last week.不管你信还是不信,我们上周还在那儿呢。
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Ready or not, here I come!不管是否准备好,我来了!
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Like it or not, you'll do as he says. [=you'll do as he says whether you like or don't like it]不管你乐意还是不乐意,你得按他说的做。
5
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used to give a negative answer to a question不,没有(用于否定回答) -
“Do you think they forgot?” “I hope not.”“你认为他们忘了吗?”“但愿没有。”
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“Should we go?” “I'd rather not.”“我们可以走了吗?”“我不想走。”
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“Do you think it's true?” “Probably/Certainly not.”“你认为那是真的吗?”“可能/肯定不是。”
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“Do you mind?” “Not at all.”“你介意吗?”“不介意。”
as like as not
or like as not — see 6like
more often than not
: happening more than half the time多数时候;多半 -
He wins more often than not. [=he wins more than he loses]他赢的时候多。
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More often than not, I stay home instead of going out.我多数时候并不出门,只待在家里。
not a/one
: no thing or person一个也没有 -
There was not one available taxi to be found. [=no taxis were available]一辆出租车也找不到。
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Not a/one single person showed up. [=no one showed up]一个人也没有出现。
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Not a word came out of her mouth.她一个字也没说。
not that
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used to say that something said before is not important倒不是;并不是说 -
I tried to help, not that it mattered. [=but it did not matter]我尽量帮忙,但这不是什么大事。
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I saw him with some other woman, not that I care. [=but I don't care]我看见他和别的女人在一起,但我并不介意。