Typically you need to say something like "不是" to reply in the negative to a question, but sometimes in reading or watching a show I've seen a character just say "不". What contexts make that allowable?
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if you don't provide the context,a explanation is out of nowhere– CN.hitoriFeb 18, 2023 at 6:38
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Well I was just asking for some example contexts such as the answers gave. The most recent context I saw was in "山" by 刘慈欣: "是被教会禁止的吗？” “不，没什么教会，...”– Davis YoshidaFeb 18, 2023 at 22:37
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4 Answers
(My personal opinion is that) Usually you don't simply say "不” in any sort of response. This is more about the tone of the response, as a simple 不 is very imperative. We could use this for instance,
不，这不重要 (no, this is not important) Here， 不 is the word 不是, imperatively demonstrating your strong opinion that it's not important.
If someone were to ask you, say, if you want to go on a date? To refuse you usually say, 不去，(appending with the verb) or 算了吧/改天再约. This is because it conveys a more amiable tone in the sentence. Saying a single "不” is extremely rude.
The context in which you can apply this is basically any reponse you wish to strongly suggest your refusal/disagreement. You can say it to disagree anything basically, but would be quite rude.
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Can you take a look at the context I posted in a comment on the OP? In this case it's unlikely the speaker is being very emotional. Could it be a brief response to indicate that they think the asker is stupid or something? Feb 18, 2023 at 22:40
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1Ahh yes @David Yoshida, this is the same as the example 不，这不重要 that I gave. Here, 不 is simply a very strong "no". "是被教会禁止的吗” is a yes-no question that asks for a definite answer（是或者不是）, in which the speaker simply responds a definite strong no, here, 不 is 不是. Similarly, other questions like 这是我们学校的吗？You may answer with a simple 不，这估计是... (It would also feel weird if you do not follow it up with something) AGAIN, a single 不 is very dismissive, you have to add a follow up to make it more friendly.– WolfkingFeb 19, 2023 at 0:31
不 can be used as a refusal. Short form of "不要/ 不答應/ 不許 "
Example:
A: "你可以走開嗎 (can you go away)?"
B: "不(no)!" = 我不要 (I don't want to/ I refuse)
A: "要親一個嗎 (want to kiss)?"
B: "不(no)!" = 不要 (I don't want to)
A: "那我可以走嗎 (can I go)?
B: "不(no)!" = 不可以 (you cannot)
It is the same as saying "no" in English. It can mean a plain refusal, but more often the answer with a single word "no" is emotionally involved, it is used either when the responder is firmly/seriously against someone's offer or request or teasing the other person jokingly.
A mother yelled at her son: "Stop watching TV, go to your room study!" The spoiled/rebellious son might simply yell back at her "No", as the demand was not what he wanted, the single-word answer "no" indicates a strong objection.
A man asked his girlfriend, "Give me a kiss, honey", she might say "No." but is that really a "no"? Depends :)
不 is used in collocal sense where as a word like چاینا is more suitable for that use case. people usually mistake 算了吧/改天再约 with allowable past tense.
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