| 寸草不生 | cùn cǎo bù shēng | lit. not even a blade of grass grows (idiom) / fig. barren |   |
| 鸡犬不宁 | jī quǎn bù níng | lit. not even the chickens and dogs are left undisturbed (idiom) / fig. great commotion / pandemonium | |
| 目不窥园 | mù bù kuī yuán | lit. not even peek at the garden / fig. to be absorbed in one's studies (idiom) | |
| 贫无立锥 | pín wú lì zhuī | not even enough land to stand an awl (idiom) / absolutely destitute | |
| 贫无立锥之地 | pín wú lì zhuī zhī dì | not even enough land to stand an awl (idiom) / absolutely destitute | |
| 一笔不苟 | yī bǐ bù gǒu | lit. not even one stroke is negligent (idiom) / fig. to write characters (calligraphy) in which every stroke is placed perfectly | |
| 一介不取 | yī jiè bù qǔ | to not even take a penny (as a bribe) | |
| 八字没一撇 | bā zì méi yī piě | lit. there is not even the first stroke of the character 八[ba1] (idiom) / fig. things have not even begun to take shape / no sign of success yet | |
| 八字还没一撇 | bā zì hái méi yī piě | lit. there is not even the first stroke of the character 八[ba1] (idiom) / fig. things have not even begun to take shape / no sign of success yet | |
| 八字还没一撇儿 | bā zì hái méi yī piě r | lit. there is not even the first stroke of the character 八[ba1] (idiom) / fig. things have not even begun to take shape / no sign of success yet | |
| 不值一驳 | bù zhí yī bó | (of an argument) not even worthy of a rebuttal | |
