no
no — noun
1. a spoken or written reply that says something is not wanted, not agreed to, or n
a spoken or written reply that says something is not wanted, not agreed to, or not accepted
When Ada asked for a raise, her manager gave a firm no.
collocation: firm no / flat no / polite no
The committee's answer was a clear no to the funding request.
pattern: a + no + to + [noun phrase]
Ziad received a polite no after his job interview last week.
My daughter begged for a later bedtime, but the answer was still no.
The board discussed the proposal and delivered a unanimous no.
- yes
the opposite reply; also used as a noun
- acceptance
the act of agreeing to something offered
- affirmative
formal opposite of 'negative'
文法句型
a + no
a firm/polite/flat + no
用法筆記
The plural form 'noes' (or 'nos') is used when referring to multiple refusals, though the singular is far more common in everyday speech.
常見錯誤
2. a vote cast against a proposal, motion, or candidate in a formal decision-making
a vote cast against a proposal, motion, or candidate in a formal decision-making process
The final count showed fifteen yes votes and only three nos.
plural form: nos / noes in vote counts
Vikram was one of only two nos on the committee.
pattern: one of [number] + nos
The mayor's proposal received more nos than yeses from the council.
Felipe counted the nos and realized the motion would not pass.
Out of thirty members, there were twelve nos and eighteen yeses.
- nay
formal parliamentary term; often paired with 'yea' or 'aye'
- negative vote
more explicit; used in official minutes
- dissenting vote
emphasizes disagreement with the majority opinion
文法句型
countable: [number] + nos/noes
the nos have it
用法筆記
Frequently used in the plural form 'nos' or 'noes' when reporting vote tallies. The expression 'the nos have it' is a formal announcement meaning the negative side has won.
常見錯誤
3. a short written form of the word 'number', written before a figure to show its p
a short written form of the word 'number', written before a figure to show its position in a series
Please turn to page No. 47 in your textbook.
pattern: No. + [number] for page reference
Our new office is at No. 23 on Park Street.
Flight No. 208 to Tokyo will depart from gate twelve.
The document is stored in cabinet No. 5 on the second floor.
Room No. 304 is on the third floor of the hotel.
文法句型
No. + [number]
at No. + [number]
用法筆記
Always written with a capital N followed by a period. Common in addresses, page references, flight numbers, and document codes. In American English, '#' is sometimes used instead.
常見錯誤
4. a short written form referring to Number Ten Downing Street, the official home a
a short written form referring to Number Ten Downing Street, the official home and workplace of the British Prime Minister
The Prime Minister returned to No. 10 after the summit.
British political metonym: No. 10 = PM's office
No. 10 issued a statement about the new policy this morning.
The economic adviser has worked at No. 10 for six years.
Journalists gathered outside No. 10 waiting for the announcement.
- Number Ten
the full phrase, also used as a metonym for the PM's office
- Downing Street
broader reference that can include the whole government's press office
文法句型
at No. 10
from No. 10
用法筆記
A fixed reference to the UK Prime Minister's official residence at 10 Downing Street, London. Often used in news reports as a metonym for the Prime Minister's office or the British government.
常見錯誤
no — adjective
1. placed before a noun to describe a state or situation in which something is comp
placed before a noun to describe a state or situation in which something is completely absent — functioning as a modifier of the noun itself rather than as a simple quantifier.
Hari had no money for the bus fare home that evening.
no + uncountable noun (money)
The doctor found no signs of illness in the young child.
no + plural countable noun (signs)
There was no answer when Ife knocked on the front door.
Caleb received no letters during his first week at camp.
Jenna had no reason to be worried about the school play.
- not any
more formal; often used in longer sentences with auxiliary verbs
- zero
informal and numerical; common in scores, statistics, and measurements
- not a single
emphatic; stresses that not even one example exists
文法句型
no + noun
there is/was no + noun
用法筆記
Unlike 'not any', 'no' goes directly before the noun without any auxiliary verbs. This sense emphasizes the complete absence rather than 'almost none'. Do not add 'any' after 'no'.
常見錯誤
2. used before a noun to say that there is almost none of something, or an extremel
used before a noun to say that there is almost none of something, or an extremely tiny amount of it.
There is no chance of rain this weekend, so the picnic is on.
collocation: no chance (very little)
The quiet toddler showed no interest in the noisy toys.
collocation: no interest
Yumi had no doubt that her school volleyball team would win the national championship.
The old bicycle has no value now that the wheels are bent.
After a good rest, Selim felt no pain in his shoulders at all.
- hardly any
more explicit about the small amount; used in everyday speech
- scarcely any
more formal and literary; rare in spoken English
- practically no
informal; emphasizes that the amount is almost zero
文法句型
no + abstract noun
no + noun (meaning 'almost no')
用法筆記
This sense is softer than Sense 1. The meaning is closer to 'hardly any' or 'almost no' rather than 'absolutely zero'. Common with abstract nouns related to possibility, feeling, or quantity.
常見錯誤
3. placed before a noun to stress that a person or thing does not have the quality
placed before a noun to stress that a person or thing does not have the quality normally connected with that noun, but instead has the opposite quality.
Christopher is no fool — he knew exactly what the deal meant.
pattern: no + noun = opposite of the noun (fool = smart)
Raising three young children alone is no easy task for anyone.
Don't tell me Élise is a beginner in the kitchen — her cakes are wonderful!
This quiet little village is no place for noisy late-night parties.
Following the detailed recipe was no problem for the skilled cook.
- far from
stronger contrast; often used with adjectives and nouns
- anything but
more emphatic; suggests the opposite is definitely true
- not at all a
more literal; less common in everyday speech
文法句型
no + noun (where the noun names a quality the subject lacks)
no + adjective + noun
用法筆記
The noun after 'no' represents a quality that does NOT describe the subject. For example, 'He is no fool' actually means 'He is clever'. This pattern is a common way to make strong, emphatic statements in everyday English.
常見錯誤
no — abbreviation
1. north or northern — a short written form used in addresses, maps, signs, and wea
north or northern — a short written form used in addresses, maps, signs, and weather reports to show the direction toward the North Pole or a location in that direction.
The map shows the lake on the N. shore of the island.
abbreviation before noun: N. shore / N. side
The Watanabe family drove N. from Tokyo to Sendai along the expressway.
N. as a direction point of travel
A cold N. wind brought temperatures below freezing all week.
The N. entrance of the museum is closed for repairs until March.
- S.
south / southern — the opposite direction
文法句型
N. + noun (e.g., N. side, N. entrance)
N. (alone, as a direction point)
用法筆記
In written English, 'N.' (with a period) is the standard abbreviation for both 'north' and 'northern'. Unlike the noun form 'north', the abbreviation is only used in writing — it is not spoken aloud as 'en' in normal speech.
常見錯誤
2. number — a written abbreviation placed before a figure to show the position of s
number — a written abbreviation placed before a figure to show the position of something in a sequence, such as a room, house, document, or flight.
Please write your house No. and street name clearly on the form.
house No. — common in addresses
The receptionist told Naoko that her room is No. 205.
room No. — common in hotels and buildings
Flight No. BR 858 departs from Gate 12 at six thirty.
Question No. 7 on the test was the hardest for most students.
Imran checked the tracking number and found item No. 3742 had arrived.
文法句型
No. + number (e.g., No. 7, No. 205)
room No. / house No. / flight No. / item No.
用法筆記
'No.' is a purely written abbreviation; it is not spoken as 'no' in this sense. In British English, it is sometimes written without a period ('No 10'). Distinguish this from the noun sense (also written 'no.'), which is used as a countable noun that can appear in speech (e.g., 'The no.s don't match'). This abbreviation sense only appears before a figure.
常見錯誤
no — adverb
1. used as a one-word reply to give a negative answer to a question, refuse an offe
used as a one-word reply to give a negative answer to a question, refuse an offer, or contradict a statement — functioning as a standalone response that replaces a full sentence such as 'I do not agree' or 'I will not accept'.
Christopher asked if he could borrow the car, but I said no.
used as a standalone reply after said
The nurse asked whether Anong needed pain relief, and she said no.
Jiwoo wanted to join the evening yoga class, yet the instructor said no.
When the immigration officer asked for his visa, Chidi replied no.
My boss asked whether I could cover the night shift, and I said no.
- nope
informal alternative, common in casual speech
- absolutely not
emphatic form, stronger refusal
- not at all
polite, often used when thanking someone
文法句型
no as a standalone reply
用法筆記
Cannot be used to negate a verb in English. For verb negation, use 'do not / does not' instead.
常見錯誤
2. used to indicate that something does not happen or exist to any degree at all —
used to indicate that something does not happen or exist to any degree at all — placed before comparative adjectives (no better), adverbs (no sooner), or certain nouns (no reason) to mean 'not even a little' or 'not in the slightest'.
Cyrus felt no better after taking the cold medicine for three days.
no + comparative adjective (no better)
There is no reason to cancel the picnic just because of light rain.
no + noun (no reason)
Sofia hoped the heavy storm would cause no damage to her house.
Nila had no idea what her little brother was talking about in the kitchen.
Mark's new phone cost no more than fifty dollars at the discount store.
- not any
more neutral, less emphatic than 'no'
- not at all
used to emphasise a negative degree
- not in the least
formal, emphatic
文法句型
no + comparative adjective
no + noun
no + more/less + than
用法筆記
Common before comparative adjectives (no better, no bigger) and mass/plural nouns (no water, no friends). Often interchangeable with 'not any', but 'no' is more emphatic.
常見錯誤
3. placed after a statement as a short way of asking your listener to confirm your
placed after a statement as a short way of asking your listener to confirm your observation or say if they share your opinion — like using 'isn't it?' or 'right?' at the sentence end.
You will meet us at Taipei Main Station at seven tonight, no?
statement + no as a tag question
Élise parked the rental car in the garage this morning, no?
Mark lent you the money for the train tickets last week, no?
Caio lives on the same street as your cousin Sofia, no?
文法句型
statement + no ?
用法筆記
Used mainly in informal spoken English as a quick way to seek confirmation. More common in some varieties of English (e.g., Indian, African) than in standard British or American English, where tag questions (isn't it?, don't you?) are preferred.
常見錯誤
no — determiner
1. used before singular countable, plural countable, or uncountable nouns to specif
used before singular countable, plural countable, or uncountable nouns to specify that not a single one or none of something exists or is available — introducing the whole noun phrase with a quantifying function rather than describing a quality.
There is no milk left in the fridge, so Feng went to the shop.
no + uncountable noun (milk)
No students in the class knew the answer to Indra's question.
no + plural noun as subject of sentence
For Kemi, there was no reason to be afraid of the gentle old dog.
The letter brought no good news for the family waiting at home.
We received no reply from the company after three weeks.
- not any
more emphatic and often used in longer or more formal sentences
- zero
used for exact quantities, especially in technical or numerical contexts
- not a single
emphatic, used to stress that there is not even one
文法句型
no + noun
no + uncountable noun
no + plural countable noun
用法筆記
Unlike 'not any', 'no' goes directly before the noun without any extra words. 'No' is more common in short statements, while 'not any' can add emphasis in longer sentences.
常見錯誤
2. displayed on warning boards and public notices to ban a specific action, item, o
displayed on warning boards and public notices to ban a specific action, item, or person from a place.
A large sign at the park entrance said 'No dogs allowed.'
sign text: 'No dogs allowed'
Visitors must follow the 'No smoking' rules inside the hospital.
sign text: 'No smoking'
Joshua ignored the 'No parking' sign and got a ticket.
There is a 'No photography' rule in the art museum gallery.
The guard told us that 'No entry' was strictly enforced after dark.
- forbidden
more formal, used in written rules and official regulations
- prohibited
formal legal term, common in official documents and signs
文法句型
no + gerund
no + noun phrase
'no' + noun in quoted sign text
用法筆記
In this sense, 'no' is followed by a gerund (-ing form) or a noun that names the forbidden thing. The phrase is often placed inside quotation marks on signs.
no — exclamation
1. uttered as a complete exclamation on its own to express a negative answer, disag
uttered as a complete exclamation on its own to express a negative answer, disagreement, or refusal — usually capped with a punctuation mark and standing alone as a full turn in conversation, rather than serving as a mere word inside a sentence.
"Would you like more rice, Mrs. Chen?" "No, thank you, I have had plenty."
polite refusal: no, thank you
Caio asked his boss if he could leave early, but she said no.
"Is the post office still open?" "No, it closed at five o'clock."
Liam offered to pay, but Kofi said no and insisted on splitting the bill.
No, I do not think that plan will work because it costs too much money.
- not really
softer, less direct than a plain 'no'
- no way
more forceful and emphatic; informal
- nope
informal and casual; used in everyday speech
- yes
the opposite affirmative reply
常見錯誤
2. A word spoken when you are very surprised, shocked, or find something hard to be
A word spoken when you are very surprised, shocked, or find something hard to believe after hearing a piece of news.
"Ilan won first prize in the competition!" "No! You must be joking!"
used to express disbelief
Sana heard the news and gasped, "No, I cannot believe she left without telling anyone!"
Eliska's grandmother climbed the stairs by herself at age eighty-two, and everyone said, "No, really?"
Yara told her friend, "No — I thought the exam was next week, not today!"
- no way
stronger surprise, sometimes with disbelief
- you're kidding
more conversational and slightly longer phrase
- oh my God
more emotional and can convey a wider range of shock
用法筆記
Often uttered with a rising intonation or followed by an exclamation mark in writing. Frequently repeated for emphasis: 'No, no, no!'
3. A word used when you refuse to accept another person's refusal, insisting that y
A word used when you refuse to accept another person's refusal, insisting that you want to give them something or do something for them.
"Let me pay for the taxi." "No, no, it is my turn to treat you."
repeated 'no' to insist despite refusal
Joon tried to return the gift, but Linh said no — she bought it for her.
"You need not drive us." "No, I insist; it is on my way."
Ayesha said she could walk home alone, but Obi insisted, "No, I am walking with you — it is dark outside."
- absolutely
stronger and more emphatic; used to shut down further argument
- I insist
a polite, slightly formal alternative
用法筆記
Often repeated two or three times ('No, no, no') to show determination. The speaker's tone is firm but usually warm or friendly.
4. A word that shows you are not sure how to reply, often used when you need to cha
A word that shows you are not sure how to reply, often used when you need to change or adjust what you first thought.
"Are you coming?" "No... I am not sure yet. I will tell you later."
hesitation: no + correction
No... actually, that is the wrong address. We need to check the map again.
Camila asked Hao about the film, and he said, "No... the acting was good but the story was too slow."
"Should I apply?" Christopher paused. "No... I need to think about it."
Adina asked about the blue or green dress, and I said, "No... the black one suits you best."
用法筆記
The word 'no' in this sense is followed by a pause (indicated by an ellipsis in writing) and then a second thought that partly contradicts or qualifies what was about to be said.
no — symbol
1. No is the symbol used on the periodic table for nobelium, a radioactive metallic
No is the symbol used on the periodic table for nobelium, a radioactive metallic element with atomic number 102 that is produced artificially in a laboratory and does not exist in nature.
Gabriel checked the periodic table and found No between Md and Lr.
periodic-table position: No between Md and Lr
The symbol No appears on the periodic table right after mendelevium.
symbol usage on periodic table
Amani wrote 'No' on her lab report when describing nobelium's properties.
Tanvi's research group produced a new isotope of No for their experiment.
Aoi noted that No is among the synthetic elements near the bottom of the table.
用法筆記
This symbol is always written with a capital N and a lower-case o (No) to distinguish it from the English word 'no'. In speech, the element is called nobelium (no-BEE-lee-um), not 'en-oh'. This sense appears mainly in chemistry textbooks, periodic tables, and research papers on synthetic elements.