▎並, bìng, (Adv), 並＋Negation, Contrary to Expectation

 

Function The adverb 並 is typically followed by negation, forming 並不 or 並沒（有）. Its use suggests that a statement runs contrary to expectations or common assumptions. Used in dialogues, these expressions indicate the speaker’s strong opposition to what was said previously.

1 你們為什麼都來問我？我並不知道怎麼包餃子啊。

Nǐmen wèishénme dōu lái wèn wǒ? Wǒ bìng bù zhīdào zěnme bāo jiǎozi a.

Why did you all come to ask me? I have no idea how to wrap dumplings.

2 這些菜的作法雖然簡單，但是味道並不差。

Zhèxiē cài de zuòfǎ suīrán jiǎndān, dànshì wèidào bìng bù chà.

Although these dishes are easy to make, they taste good.

3 這件事說起來容易，做起來並不容易。

Zhè jiàn shì shuōqǐlái róngyì, zuòqǐlái bìng bù róngyì.

This is easy to talk about, but it’s not easy to do. (This is easier said than done.)

4 網路雖然把世界變小了，但是人跟人的關係並沒有變得比較近。

Wǎnglù suīrán bǎ shìjiè biàn xiǎo le, dànshì rén gēn rén de guānxi bìng méi yǒu biàn de bǐjiào jìn.

The internet has made the world smaller, but it hasn’t brought people closer together.

5 垃圾分類並沒有你想的那麼麻煩。

Lèsè fēnlèi bìng méi yǒu nǐ xiǎng de nàme máfán.

Sorting garbage isn’t as much a hassle as you think it is.

 

Usage

(1) 並 is an adverb. It is placed after the subject and before the verb.

(2) When one wants to indicate ‘it is not the case (that)…’, the expression is 並＋不是. For example, 並不是所有的牌子都打七折。Bìng búshì suǒyǒu de páizi dōu dǎ qī zhé. ‘It’s not the case that all brands are 30% off.’

(3) The speaker uses 並 to indicate that what he is saying is contrary to what the addressee assumes or expects. By contrast, without 並, the speaker’s statement is a straightforward one.

A：你們班上不是還有位子嗎？你怎麼沒叫我去旁聽？

Nǐmen bān shàng búshì hái yǒu wèizi ma? Nǐ zěnme méi jiào wǒ qù pángtīng?

Aren’t there still empty seats in your class? Why didn’t you tell me to go audit?

B：

a. 我並不知道還有位子。(relatively tactful way of saying it)

Wǒ bìng bù zhīdào hái yǒu wèizi.

I had no idea there were any empty seats.

b. 我不知道還有位子。(more direct)

Wǒ bù zhīdào hái yǒu wèizi.

I had no idea there were any empty seats.