Learning to say "not this time" in Mandarin Chinese can be very useful for politely declining invitations, offers, or requests. Here's a comprehensive guide to saying "not this time" in various contexts, complete with the most common Chinese phrases, sample sentences, audio clips, and cultural tips.

Why Learning This Phrase Is Helpful

Being able to gracefully decline something in Chinese is an important conversational skill. Directly saying "no" is often considered rude in Chinese culture. Using a phrase like "not this time" softens the refusal and leaves the door open for future acceptance.

This makes it a versatile phrase for situations like:

Turning down invitations or offers from friends, colleagues, clients, etc.
Politely rejecting unsolicited sales pitches or requests for donations.
Asking to take a raincheck on an activity suggestion from your language exchange partner.
Indicating you don't need assistance from store clerks or servers at the moment.
The ability to say "not this time" helps you interact more naturally in Chinese while maintaining positive relationships.

Key Ways to Say "Not This Time" in Chinese

Here are the main Chinese phrases for saying "not this time" with pinyin pronunciations and character writing:

這一次不了 (zhè yī cì bù le) – The most direct translation meaning "not this time."
這次免了 (zhè cì miǎn le) – Literally "exempt this time."
改天吧 (gǎi tiān ba) – Means "some other day."
下次吧 (xià cì ba) – Translates to "next time."
暫時不 (zàn shí bù) – Means "not for now."

These phrases all clearly convey "not this time" in standard Mandarin Chinese. Let's look at how to use them in full sentences.

Sample Sentences

Here are some examples of "not this time" responses to common situations in conversational Chinese, with pinyin romanizations:

A: 我們一起去吃飯吧。(Wǒ men yī qǐ qù chī fàn ba.) – Let's go eat together.
B: 這一次不了，我已經有其他安排了。(Zhè yí cì bù liǎo, wǒ yǐjīng yǒu qítā ānpái le.) – Not this time, I already have other plans.

A: 你想試試這個新菜嗎? (Nǐ xiǎng shì shì zhè ge xīn cài ma?) – Would you like to try this new dish?
B: 這次免了，我想點我常吃的。(Zhè cì miǎn le, wǒ xiǎng diǎn wǒ cháng chī de.) – I'll pass this time, I want to order what I usually get.

A: 我們明天再繼續討論這個項目，可以嗎? (Wǒ men míng tiān zài jì xù tǎo lùn zhè ge xiàng mù, kě yǐ ma?) – Let's continue discussing this project tomorrow, okay?
B: 改天吧，我有點忙。(Gǎi tiān ba, wǒ yǒu diǎn máng.) – Some other day, I'm a bit busy.

A: 你要買這個袋子嗎？只要五十塊。(Nǐ yào mǎi zhè ge dài zi ma? Zhǐ yào wǔ shí kuài.) – Do you want to buy this bag? Only 50 yuan.
B: 下次吧，我今天不買東西。(Xià cì ba, wǒ jīn tiān bù mǎi dōng xi.) – Next time, I'm not shopping today.

A: 要我幫你拿嗎? (Yào wǒ bāng nǐ ná ma?) – Can I help you carry that?
B: 暫時不用，謝謝。(Zàn shí bù yòng, xiè xie.) – Not for now, thanks.

Additional Useful Vocabulary

Here are some extra words and phrases that are handy for politely declining offers or invitations:

對不起 (Duì bù qǐ) – Sorry
下次吧 (Xià cì ba) – Next time
暫時不方便 (Zàn shí bù fāng biàn) – Not convenient right now
我再考慮一下 (Wǒ zài kǎo lǜ yī xià) – Let me think about it
不用了，謝謝 (Bù yòng le, xiè xie) – No need, thanks

You can combine these with the "not this time" phrases to sound more polite and grateful when turning something down.

Cultural Tips for Using This Phrase

Here are some useful cultural tips to keep in mind when saying "not this time" in Mandarin:

Accompany the phrase with a smile or look of regret to appear polite.
Avoid bluntly saying "I don't want to." This can come across as rude.
Don't give excuses or detailed explanations if not necessary. Simple is better.
You can use this phrase to deflect pushy sales tactics. But avoid outright saying "no."
After rejecting an offer, you can ask the person to extend it again another time. This shows appreciation.
If declining an invitation from a superior, frame it hypothetically like "If I could, I would love to. But…"
Being aware of these nuances will help you turn down requests, offers, and invitations in a tactful way true to Chinese etiquette.

Putting It All Together

Let's review the key phrases and sentence patterns for gracefully saying "not this time" in Mandarin:

這一次不了 (Zhè yī cì bù le) – Direct not this time phrase
這次免了 (Zhè cì miǎn le) – I'll pass this time
改天吧 (Gǎi tiān ba) – Some other day
下次吧 (Xià cì ba) – Next time
暫時不 (Zàn shí bù) – Not for now

(Phrase above), 因為 (yīnwèi) + reason – Decline giving a brief explanation with "because."
(Phrase above), 但是 (dànshì) + appreciation – Soften refusal by following with "but" and appreciation
(Phrase above), 謝謝 (xièxie) – Say thanks to be extra polite.

With these phrases and patterns, you'll be prepared to gracefully decline offers and invitations in any social or professional situations you encounter in China.

The ability to say "not this time" is invaluable for interacting politely while setting your own boundaries. Master this skill, and you'll build stronger relationships and avoid misunderstandings.

來源：goeastmandarin.com
編輯：萬月英