弗 (fú) - Not & negative particle meaning 'not' or 'do not'

弗Tone 2

fú ｜ 5 strokes ｜ radical: 弓

枫惠

弗 · fú

Not;

negative particle meaning 'not' or 'do not';

used in classical Chinese and modern compounds.

Notnegative particle meaning 'not' or 'do not'used in classical Chinese and modern compounds.

Usage highlights

Not permitNot goNot doNot succeedNot agreeNot allow

Synonyms

  • 不— not (more common negative)
  • 非— not; non- (negative prefix)
  • 否— no; not (in questions or negatives)

Antonyms

  • 是— yes; correct
  • 可— can; may
  • 允— allow; permit

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He will not go (弗去).
  • This cannot be done (弗可为).
  • The matter is not settled (事弗成).
  • They do not agree (弗同意).

Collocations

  • Not permit(弗许)
  • Not go(弗去)
  • Not do(弗为)
  • Not succeed(弗成)
  • Not agree(弗允)
  • Not allow(弗许)

Idioms

  • Self-denial(自弗)
  • Not permit oneself(弗自许)
  • Refuse to yield(弗屈)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Used as a negative particle in classical Chinese, similar to 不 but often in more formal or literary contexts.
  • Appears in historical texts and classical literature as a marker of negation.
  • Sometimes used in modern compounds to convey a classical or formal tone.

FAQ