HSK 1 · VERSION 2.0#7
Expressing “not very” with “bú tài”
不太
How it works
不太 (bú tài) means “not very” or “not quite.” It sounds softer than a direct negative.
The pattern
Subject + 不太 + Adjective / Verb
Example sentences
我今天不太忙。
I am not very busy today.
他不太喜欢咖啡。
He does not like coffee very much.
这个问题我不太懂。
I do not understand this question very well.
Usage note
This pattern is very useful in daily conversation because it sounds polite and natural.