Quick answer
In everyday 没事 and 没关系, 没 is pronounced méi and expresses absence or negation. In 没有, it can mean 'do not have' or mark that something has not happened. The less common reading mò appears in words about submerging.
Pinyin and pronunciation
méi; mò
What the character contributes
没 on its own does not fix the tone of a whole reply. 没事 can reassure, downplay a problem or simply state that nothing happened.
Examples in context
没事，我没受伤。
Méi shì, wǒ méi shòushāng.
I'm okay; I'm not hurt.
我还没吃饭。
Wǒ hái méi chīfàn.
I haven't eaten yet.
Common mistakes
- Do not translate 没 as 'no' in every sentence; check the verb or expression that follows.
- Read 没事 as méi shì, not with the less common mò reading.
Related expressions
Sources and editorial note
These learning notes and examples are original project content. Compare dictionary senses with CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0).