并不
Reach for 并不 when you want to push back hard against an assumption — 'actually not / not at all.' It's stronger than 不 alone because 并 adds 'contrary to what you might think.' Common when correcting an impression, defending against a charge, or denying a rumor. Pair it with adjectives, verbs, or 是 to negate them while signaling that the listener was probably leaning the wrong way.
Structure
[SUBJECT] 并不 [VERB / ADJECTIVE / 是 + NOUN]
bìng bù...
How to Think About It
并 doesn't strengthen the negation grammatically — it strengthens the implication that the listener held the opposite view. Plain 不 negates a fact; 并不 negates a fact AND tells you 'you were probably wrong about this.' Use it when there's an implied accusation, assumption, or rumor floating in the air that you're knocking down.
Examples
这件事并不简单。
Zhè jiàn shì bìng bù jiǎndān.
This matter is not simple at all (contrary to what you think).
他并不喜欢现在的工作。
Tā bìng bù xǐhuan xiànzài de gōngzuò.
He actually doesn't like his current job.
价格并不是问题，质量才是。
Jiàgé bìng bú shì wèntí, zhìliàng cái shì.
The price isn't really the issue — quality is.
这道题并不难。
Zhè dào tí bìng bù nán.
This problem isn't actually hard.
他并不喜欢热闹。
Tā bìng bù xǐhuān rènào.
He doesn't really like noisy crowds.
事情并不像你想的那么简单。
Shìqing bìng bù xiàng nǐ xiǎng de nàme jiǎndān.
Things aren't as simple as you think.
我并不后悔我的选择。
Wǒ bìng bù hòuhuǐ wǒ de xuǎnzé.
I don't actually regret my choice.
Common Mistake
Learners use 并不 as a generic 'not,' but it sounds emphatic and slightly confrontational. In neutral statements, plain 不 is enough; 并不 implies pushback against a specific assumption.
我并不饿，我刚吃过饭。
我不饿，我刚吃过饭。
Don't Confuse With
并没 / 并没有
Use 并没 to negate completed actions or possession; 并不 negates states, verbs, and adjectives. Same 并, different negator.
不是
不是 plainly denies an equation. 并不是 denies it while implying 'you thought it was, but it isn't.'
根本不
根本不 means 'not at all / fundamentally not' — even stronger and more dismissive. 并不 corrects an assumption; 根本不 rejects the entire premise.
不
Plain negation — neutral, no implied assumption. Use 不 for simple denials; use 并不 when correcting a wrong impression.
并没有
Same corrective tone, but for past actions or possession ('didn't actually X' / 'doesn't actually have'). Pair with verbs of completion or 有.
Practice
Fill in the blank: 这件事 ___ 不简单。 (it's not simple at all)
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并
Fill in the blank: 他并 ___ 喜欢现在的工作。
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不
Arrange: 并 / 这件事 / 简单 / 不 / 。
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这件事并不简单。
Translate to Chinese: The price isn't really the issue.
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价格并不是问题。
Write a sentence using 并不 to correct an assumption people often make about your hometown.
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我的家乡并不冷，夏天很热。
Fill in: 这件事____像看起来那么容易。 (not actually)
Hear It in Real Episodes
Related Grammar Patterns
Acquire by listening
Hear 并不 in real Chinese, not in a textbook.
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