不用 bù yòng
“need not”
adverb2021 list level 1
新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level
不用 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.
- Entry 543: 不用 búyòng — Level 3; official annotation 3 (副). PDF page 93
Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.
用法How to use 不用
不用 means "need not" or "there is no need to" and usually comes before a verb: 不用去、不用买. 不用了 is a common short reply meaning "no need", and 不用谢 means "you are welcome". 不要 can instead mean "do not" in a command or "do not want", depending on context.
例句Example sentences
- 今天不用上班，我想多睡一会儿。jīn tiān bú yòng shàng bān, wǒ xiǎng duō shuì yí huìr.I don't have to work today, so I want to sleep a bit longer.
- 你不用来接我，我自己坐地铁去。nǐ bú yòng lái jiē wǒ, wǒ zì jǐ zuò dì tiě qù.You don't need to come pick me up; I'll take the subway myself.
- 甲：谢谢你！乙：不用谢。jiǎ: xiè xiè nǐ! yǐ: bú yòng xiè.A: Thank you! B: You're welcome.
易混词Easily confused
不用vs不要
不用 means there is no need to do something (不用买、不用谢); 不要 is a prohibition meaning "don't" (不要说话、不要动). Note that both 不用客气 and 不要客气 are used politely to put a guest at ease — the key contrast is "no need" versus "don't".