bù tóngyì: 不同意 - To Disagree, Not Agree

• Keywords: 不同意, bu tongyi, disagree in Chinese, how to say I don't agree, object in Chinese, not agree in Chinese, refuse in Chinese, Chinese for disagree, Chinese vocabulary, HSK 3
• Summary: Learn how to say “disagree” in Chinese with the word 不同意 (bù tóngyì). This page provides a comprehensive guide for beginners, covering its core meaning, cultural context, and practical usage. Discover why directly saying “I disagree” can be tricky in Chinese culture and learn more polite, alternative ways to express a different opinion without causing offense.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): bù tóngyì
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: To not agree with an opinion, statement, or proposal; to disagree.
• In a Nutshell: 不同意 (bù tóngyì) is the most direct and literal way to express disagreement in Mandarin Chinese. It's formed by simply adding the negative prefix `不 (bù)`, meaning “not,” to the word `同意 (tóngyì)`, meaning “to agree.” While grammatically simple, using it requires cultural awareness. Its directness can be perceived as confrontational, so its appropriateness depends heavily on the situation and your relationship with the other person.

• 不 (bù): The universal character for negation, meaning “not” or “no.” It's one of the first and most fundamental characters a learner will encounter.
• 同 (tóng): This character means “same,” “alike,” or “together.” It often depicts people in a group or sharing a single idea.
• 意 (yì): This character means “idea,” “opinion,” “thought,” or “meaning.” Notice the `心 (xīn)` radical at the bottom, which means “heart” or “mind,” indicating that `意` relates to one's inner thoughts and feelings.

When combined, `不 (bù) + 同 (tóng) + 意 (yì)` literally translates to “not the same idea,” a very logical and clear way to form the concept of “disagreeing.”

In many Western cultures, especially in the United States, direct disagreement can be seen as a positive trait—a sign of honesty, critical thinking, and engagement. Voicing a contrary opinion is often encouraged in debates, classrooms, and business meetings. The situation in Chinese culture is often different, guided by the values of harmony (和谐, héxié) and preserving face (面子, miànzi). Directly stating “我不同意” (Wǒ bù tóngyì - I disagree), especially to an elder, a superior, or in a public group setting, can be jarring and cause the other person to “lose face.” It can be interpreted not just as a disagreement with an idea, but as a personal challenge. Because of this, native Chinese speakers often employ softer, more indirect strategies to express disagreement:

• Showing partial agreement first: “你说的有道理，但是…” (Nǐ shuō de yǒu dàolǐ, dànshì… - “What you said makes sense, but…”)
• Turning a statement into a question: “我们是不是可以考虑另一种方法？” (Wǒmen shì bu shì kěyǐ kǎolǜ lìng yī zhǒng fāngfǎ? - “Could we perhaps consider another method?”)
• Postponing a decision: “让我想一想。” (Ràng wǒ xiǎng yi xiǎng. - “Let me think about it.”) This is often a polite way of signaling potential disagreement without confrontation.

Understanding this context is crucial. 不同意 is a necessary word, but knowing *when* and *how* to use it (and when to use an alternative) is key to effective and polite communication.

The directness of 不同意 makes its usage highly context-dependent.

• Among Close Friends & Peers: In an informal debate about movies, sports, or ideas with people you know well, saying “我不同意！” (Wǒ bù tóngyì!) is perfectly normal and acceptable.
• In Business or Formal Settings: Using 不同意 with a superior is generally a bad idea. It's too blunt. Instead, you would use more nuanced phrases like “我有一个不同的看法” (Wǒ yǒu yí ge bùtóng de kànfǎ - “I have a different point of view”). However, in a technical discussion among colleagues of equal status, it might be used to state a factual disagreement.
• With Family: When talking to parents or elders, 不同意 can sound defiant and disrespectful. Children might say it, but it would be considered talking back. A more respectful way to express a different wish might be to explain one's reasoning without using the word 不同意.
• Online: On social media and forums, directness is more common. You will frequently see users writing “不同意这个观点” (“I don't agree with this viewpoint”) in comment sections.

• Example 1:
  • 我不同意你的看法。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ bù tóngyì nǐ de kànfǎ.
  • English: I disagree with your point of view.
  • Analysis: A very direct and standard way to state disagreement. Best used with peers or in situations where directness is expected.
• Example 2:
  • 他父母不同意他去国外工作。
  • Pinyin: Tā fùmǔ bù tóngyì tā qù guówài gōngzuò.
  • English: His parents don't agree with him working abroad.
  • Analysis: Here, 不同意 means “disapprove” or “do not consent.” It highlights a disagreement that involves a decision or permission.
• Example 3:
  • A: 我们明天去看电影，好吗？ (Wǒmen míngtiān qù kàn diànyǐng, hǎo ma? - Let's go see a movie tomorrow, okay?)
  • B: 不同意，我明天很忙。 (Bù tóngyì, wǒ míngtiān hěn máng. - I disagree/No, I'm busy tomorrow.)
  • Analysis: In a quick, informal exchange, 不同意 can function as a simple “no” to a suggestion. It's very blunt. A softer response would be “不好意思…” (bù hǎoyìsi - sorry…).
• Example 4:
  • 大部分人都不同意这个新规定。
  • Pinyin: Dàbùfen rén dōu bù tóngyì zhège xīn guīdìng.
  • English: The majority of people disagree with this new regulation.
  • Analysis: Used to describe a general consensus of disagreement.
• Example 5:
  • 我完全不同意！这样做太危险了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ wánquán bù tóngyì! Zhèyàng zuò tài wēixiǎn le.
  • English: I completely disagree! Doing it this way is too dangerous.
  • Analysis: The adverb `完全 (wánquán)` adds strong emphasis. This is a very forceful statement of disagreement.
• Example 6:
  • 如果你不同意，你可以提出你的理由。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ bù tóngyì, nǐ kěyǐ tíchū nǐ de lǐyóu.
  • English: If you disagree, you can present your reasons.
  • Analysis: This sentence sets up a formal or structured context for debate, making the use of 不同意 appropriate.
• Example 7:
  • 在这个问题上，我持不同意见。
  • Pinyin: Zài zhège wèntí shàng, wǒ chí bù tóng yìjiàn.
  • English: On this issue, I hold a different opinion.
  • Analysis: Note the slight variation here: 不同意见 (bùtóng yìjiàn) means “a different opinion.” `持 (chí)` means “to hold.” This is a more formal and written way to express disagreement.
• Example 8:
  • 他摇了摇头，表示不同意。
  • Pinyin: Tā yáo le yáo tóu, biǎoshì bù tóngyì.
  • English: He shook his head, expressing his disagreement.
  • Analysis: Shows how 不同意 can describe the concept of disagreement itself, not just the spoken words.
• Example 9:
  • 我有点不同意你的结论。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ yǒudiǎn bù tóngyì nǐ de jiélùn.
  • English: I somewhat disagree with your conclusion.
  • Analysis: Adding `有点 (yǒudiǎn)`, meaning “a little bit” or “somewhat,” is a common strategy to soften the directness of 不同意.
• Example 10:
  • 董事会最终不同意启动这个项目。
  • Pinyin: Dǒngshìhuì zuìzhōng bù tóngyì qǐdòng zhège xiàngmù.
  • English: The board of directors ultimately did not agree to launch this project.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates usage in a formal, corporate context where 不同意 means a formal rejection of a proposal.

• Mistake: Using it Casually with Superiors.
  • A common mistake for beginners is to directly translate “I disagree” when speaking to a person of higher status, like a teacher or a boss.
  • Incorrect: (To your boss) `老板，我不同意。` (Lǎobǎn, wǒ bù tóngyì.)
  • Why it's wrong: This is culturally inappropriate and sounds confrontational and disrespectful. It could damage your working relationship.
  • Better: `老板，关于这个计划，我有一个小小的建议，不知道可不可以？` (Lǎobǎn, guānyú zhège jìhuà, wǒ yǒu yí ge xiǎoxiǎo de jiànyì, bù zhīdào kě bù kěyǐ? - Boss, regarding this plan, I have a small suggestion, I wonder if that's okay?)
• Difference between 不同意 (bù tóngyì) and 拒绝 (jùjué):
  • 不同意 is about disagreeing with an idea, opinion, or proposal.
  • 拒绝 (jùjué) is about refusing an action, request, or object.
  • Example: You 不同意 with your friend's political opinion. You 拒绝 your friend's request to borrow money. (你不同意你朋友的政治观点。你拒绝你朋友借钱的请求。)
• Softer Alternatives are Not “Weak”:
  • English speakers might feel that indirect ways of disagreeing are weak or dishonest. In Chinese culture, they are not. They are considered socially intelligent, polite, and respectful ways to maintain group harmony while still signaling a different perspective.

• `同意` (tóngyì) - The direct antonym: “to agree,” “to consent.”
• `反对` (fǎnduì) - A much stronger term meaning “to oppose” or “to object to.” It implies active resistance and is often used in political or formal debates. 不同意 is a disagreement; 反对 is an opposition.
• `不赞成` (bù zànchéng) - “To disapprove of,” “not in favor of.” This is softer than 反对 and often expresses a personal or moral disapproval rather than a purely logical one.
• `拒绝` (jùjué) - “To refuse,” “to reject.” Used for turning down requests, offers, or invitations, not for disagreeing with ideas.
• `看法` (kànfǎ) - “Point of view,” “opinion.” Often used to frame a disagreement politely, e.g., “My point of view is a bit different” (我的看法有点不一样).
• `有道理` (yǒu dàolǐ) - “Makes sense,” “is reasonable.” A classic way to preface a polite disagreement.
• `面子` (miànzi) - “Face,” social standing, prestige. The cultural concept that explains why direct confrontation is often avoided.
• `和谐` (héxié) - “Harmony.” The social ideal that encourages smooth interpersonal relationships over blunt expressions of personal opinion.