Definition
莫不 is a literary double-negative pattern meaning 'there is no one who doesn't' — i.e., 'everyone does' or 'all are'. It appears in formal written Chinese, often introducing a result or reaction that no person present can avoid. In some classical contexts it can also mean 'perhaps' or 'could it be that', overlapping with 莫非, but the double-negative sense is the primary HSK 7 usage. When learning this word, recognize it as a fixed phrase: 莫 (none) + 不 (not) → 'none not', and the scope is typically universal.
v.p.
(literary) there is no one who doesn'teveryone does
Examples
- ,莫不。Tā jiǎng de gùshi, zài chǎng de mò bù wèi zhī dòng róng.Everyone present was moved by the story he told.
- ,莫不。Tīng wén cǐ yán, zhòng rén mò bù zàn tàn.Upon hearing this, everyone praised.
- 莫不。Cǐ shì mò bù lìng yǒu yǐn qíng.Perhaps there is a hidden story behind this matter.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.