甲骨文中的動詞可以根據其配價的不同分成以下四類，即零價動詞、一價動詞、二價動詞、三價動詞。除了只能用「不」和常用「不」來否定的情況之外，「不」和「弗」的使用跟動詞的配價有很大關係。一般說來，非動詞、零價動詞、一價動詞要用「不」來否定，而二價動詞、三價動詞常用「弗」來否定，但也可以用「不」來否定。

On the basis of distinctions of verbal valency, verbs used within oracle inscriptions can be divided into the following four categories: zero-valent verbs, monovalent verbs, bivalent verbs and trivalent verbs. Apart from instances of negation in which only bu may be used or in which bu is often used, the use of both bu and fu is closely related to verbal valence. In general, bu is used to negate non-verbs, zero-valent verbs and monovalent verbs, while though fu is often used to negate bivalent verbs and trivalent verbs, bu can also be used to negate these two verb types.

甲骨文；不；弗；配價；區別

oracle-bone inscriptions; bu 不; fu 弗; valence; distinctions of verbal valency