Chinese grammatica: '无论wúlùn' versus '不管bùguǎn'.
Another frustration for HSK4 (and sometimes HSK5 students) Chinese learners is the difference between ‘无论wúlùn’ versus ‘不管bùguǎn’. Here we’ll quickly explain this grammar point of the Mandarin Chinese language.
When to use ‘无论wúlùn’ or ‘不管bùguǎn’
When to use which word in Chinese depends on the context. Usually, ‘不管 (bùguǎn)’ is more informal than ‘无论(wúlùn)’, so for instance you can use the latter in Business Chinese situations. Yet both are used in more or less the same way, and mean ‘no matter’ or ‘regardless’.
First, ‘不管bùguǎn’ and ‘无论wúlùn’ often used together with interrogative pronouns such as ‘什么(shénme)’, ‘怎么(zěnme)”谁(shéi)’, ‘哪儿(nǎr)’, and ‘多么(duō me)’. It is often collocated with’还是(háishì)’ or an affirmative negative phrase.
For example:
- 不管天气怎么样,明天的比赛都按时举行。
- Bùguǎn tiānqì zěnme yàng, míngtiān de bǐsài dōu ànshí jǔxíng.
- Regardless of the weather, tomorrow’s game will be held on time.
And:
- 无论天气怎么样，明天的比赛都按时举行。
- Wúlùn tiānqì zěnme yàng, míngtiān de bǐsài dōu ànshí jǔxíng.
- Regardless of the weather, tomorrow’s game will be held on time.
Difference between ‘无论wúlùn’ and ‘不管bùguǎn’
We can use an affirmative negative form after ‘无论(wúlùn)’ and ‘不管 (bùguǎn)’. The difference is that when’无论(wúlùn)’ is followed by an affirmative negative form, then usually these following words are used between the affirmative and negative constituents: 还是(háishì), 跟(gēn) or 与(yǔ). 不管 (bùguǎn) can be used more liberally.
- 不管热不热，他总是穿那么多。
- Bùguǎn rè bù rè, tā zǒng shì chuān nàme duō.
- Whether it’s hot or not, he always wears so much (clothing).
And:
- 无论热还是不热，他总是穿那么多。
- Wúlùn rè háishì bù rè, tā zǒng shì chuān nàme duō.
- Whether hot or not, he always wears so much (clothing).
We hope that clarifies this grammar point of the Chinese language!
