Breakdown of Tā shuō zuìjìn méiyǒu xiāoxi, wǒ yě bù zhīdào.
我wǒ
I
不bù
not
有yǒu
to have
没méi
not
也yě
also
她tā
she
说shuō
to say
最近zuìjìn
recently
消息xiāoxi
news
知道zhīdào
to know
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Questions & Answers about Tā shuō zuìjìn méiyǒu xiāoxi, wǒ yě bù zhīdào.
Why is 没有 used instead of 不 in 最近没有消息?
- 没有 negates existence or past occurrence (there has not been any news), and it’s the correct negation for 有. You can’t say “不有”.
- 不 is used for habitual, general, or future negation of actions/states, not for existence. So here only 没(有) works.
Can I drop 有 and say 最近没消息?
Yes. 最近没消息 is common and slightly more casual. 最近没有消息 is a bit more neutral/formal. Meaning is the same.
Where does 也 go in 我也不知道? Could I say 我不也知道?
- The usual order is: Subject + 也
- (negation) + verb: 我也不知道.
- 我不也知道 is ungrammatical here. Put 也 before 不/没 and before the verb.
Does 我也不知道 mean “me neither/I don’t know either”?
Yes. It expresses agreement with a prior negative about knowing.
- A: 你知道吗？ B: 我也不知道。 = “I don’t know either.”
Why not say 没知道?
- The standard negation of 知道 is 不知道, not 没(有)知道.
- If you need a “didn’t manage to find out” idea, say things like 没弄清楚 or 没听说 instead.
Should there be a 了 after 说 (e.g., 她说了)? What’s the nuance?
- 她说最近没有消息 is fine; context/time words already situate it.
- 她说了最近没有消息 emphasizes the completion of her saying it (often a specific past event).
- 她说过最近没有消息 means “she has said (before) that there hasn’t been any news recently.”
Do I need a word like “that” after 说? How do I mark quotes?
Chinese doesn’t need a “that.” You can use:
- Indirect: 她说最近没有消息。
- Direct: 她说：“最近没有消息。”
What does 最近 modify here? Could I say 没有最近消息?
- 最近 is a time adverbial modifying the whole clause: “there has been no news lately.”
- 没有最近消息 is unnatural. If you mean “recent news,” say 最近的消息.
What’s the difference between 消息, 新闻, and 通知?
- 消息: “news/word/information” (updates, word from someone). E.g., 有什么新消息吗？
- 新闻: news as reported by media (news articles, broadcasts).
- 通知: an official notice/notification (announcement directed to people).
What measure word do I use with 消息?
Use 条: 一条消息 / 几条消息. You’ll also see set phrases like 好消息/坏消息 without a measure word.
How do I pronounce the whole sentence? Any tone-sandhi or neutral tones?
- Pinyin: Tā shuō zuìjìn méiyǒu xiāoxi, wǒ yě bù zhīdào.
- Neutral tones: 消息 xiāoxi (second syllable neutral), 知道 zhīdào (second syllable often neutral).
- Tone sandhi: 我也 (wǒ yě) is pronounced like “wó yě” (3rd + 3rd → 2nd + 3rd). 不 stays bù here because the next syllable (zhī) is 1st tone.
Are 她, 他, and 它 all pronounced the same?
Yes, all are tā (first tone). Writing distinguishes female/male/it; speech relies on context.
What’s the role of the comma here? Do I need a conjunction?
Chinese often links related clauses with a comma: 她说……，我也不知道。 You don’t need an explicit “and.” You could add connectors for clarity or nuance, but it’s not required.
How do I say “She told me there hasn’t been any news recently”?
- 她跟我说最近没有消息。
- 她对我说最近没有消息。
- 她告诉我最近没有消息。
Note: 告诉 requires an object (the person told). 说 can optionally take one with 跟/对.
How can I emphasize “no news at all”?
- 一点(儿)消息也/都没有。
- More formal/literary: 毫无消息。
How do I say “There’s still no news (yet)”?
Use 还 for “still/yet”: 最近还没有消息。
Can I use 讲 instead of 说?
In many southern varieties and in Taiwan, 讲 is common in speech. In standard Mainland usage, 说 is the general verb “to say,” while 讲 often leans toward “to speak/explain/tell (a story).” Here, 说 is the safest default.
What’s the deal with 知道 having 道? Can I just say 不知?
知道 is a set verb meaning “to know.” Historically, 道 was a complement; today it’s part of the word. 不知 exists but is formal/literary; in everyday speech use 不知道.