How to say "no" or "not allowed" in Chinese

Literally "not OK": 不 (bù) means "not," and 行 (xíng) means "OK" or "workable." Together they form a fixed expression for refusal.

Use 不行 when you're refusing something outright or saying something isn't permitted. It's blunt, so in polite company you might soften it with 不好意思 (bù hǎoyìsi) first. Don't use it for simple "no" to a question like "are you coming?" — that's 不是 (bú shì).