非 (fēi) · non-; un- (prefix negating a noun)

Meanings

1 non-; un- (prefix negating a noun)
2 not belonging to a category

Characters

非

fēi

not; non-; wrong

Examples

HSK 5

非正式会议不需要穿西装。

Fēizhèngshì huìyì bù xūyào chuān xīzhuāng.

You don't need to wear a suit to an informal meeting.

HSK 7-9

非金属元素包括氧和氮。

Fēijīnshǔ yuánsù bāokuò yǎng hé dàn.

Non-metal elements include oxygen and nitrogen.

HSK 7-9

这是一个非营利组织。

Zhè shì yígè fēiyínglì zǔzhī.

This is a non-profit organization.

Tips

usage

As a prefix, 非 means "non-" and attaches to nouns/adjectives: 非金属 (non-metal), 非正式 (informal, unofficial), 非法 (illegal), 非营利 (non-profit), 非暴力 (non-violent).

grammar

非 as a prefix creates a new compound word, unlike 不 which simply negates a verb or adjective. Compare 非正式 (informal, a category) with 不正式 (not formal, a judgment).

Components

pictograph

非 fēi

not; non-; wrong

Pictograph of a pair of wings spread apart - two mirrored sets of feathers facing away from each other in opposite directions. From that picture of things splayed in opposite directions came the meaning 'opposite, contrary, not.' 非 is its own Kangxi radical (#175), though few modern characters file under it. The visual symmetry is the key to remembering: two wings turning away from each other = negation.

Radical

Wrong Kangxi #175

An indexing radical built on the symmetric wing-image of 飛 split open, two halves facing away from each other. Semantically anchors negation, contradiction, and divergence: 靠, 靡, 韭 historically grouped here. Most modern compounds inherit the 'against / not so' sense rather than any visual feature of feathers.