To form a negative Mandarin sentence, the particle 不 (bù) is placed in front of the verb. The only exception to this is the verb 有 (yǒu - to have), which uses 沒 (méi) for its negative form.
The Mandarin for “neither” is 也不 (yě bù). Yě means “also”, so the literal translation of yě bù is “also not”.
Yě bù can be used before any verb except 有 (yǒu - to have), which becomes yě méi yǒu.
Sometimes méi is used for negating Functive Verbs (action verbs) when talking about completed actions. In this situation, méi is a short form for méi yǒu and either form can be used. For example:
Tā yě méi lái.
He hasn’t come either. (Neither has he come.)
他也沒來｡
Tā yě méi yǒu lái.
He hasn’t come either.
他也沒有來｡
Yě bù and yě méi yǒu are used to translate both neither and nor as in this example:
Today is neither too hot nor too cold – very comfortable.
Jīntiān yě bù tài rè yě bù tài lěng - hěn shūfu.
(trad) 今天也不太熱也不太冷 - 很舒服｡
(simp) 今天也不太热也不太冷 - 很舒服｡
Neither Of Us / None Of Us
When talking about two people, you can use the pronoun 兩個都不 (liǎng gè dōu bù). Two objects are described as 兩者都不 (liǎng zhě dōu bù). These mean “neither of us/them”.
Dōu bù (都不) by itself can refer to two or more people or objects, so it can be translated as “neither” or “none of”.
Examples of Neither / Nor
Nǐmen dōu méiyǒu ná shū.
Neither of you (or none of you) took the books.
(trad) 你們都沒有拿書｡
(simp) 你们都没有拿书｡
note: nǐmen dōu can be two or more people.
Tāmen liǎng gè dōu bù huì shuō Yīngwén.
Neither of them can speak English.
(trad) 他們兩個都不會說英文｡
(simp) 他们两个都不会说英文｡
Wǒ bù xǐhuan chī liú lián.
Wǒ yě bù xǐhuan.
I don’t like durian fruit.
Neither do I.
(trad) 我不喜歡吃榴莲｡
我也不喜歡｡
(simp) 我不喜欢吃榴莲｡
我也不喜欢｡
