Difference between "нет" and "не"?

Question

What is the difference between «нет» and «не»? They both seem to mean "no". When should each one be used? Are they interchangeable?

Answer 1

No, they are not interchangeable.

не = not

нет = no

Answer 2

HE - is a particle, it is an “auxiliary” part of speech. Its meaning is to express negation, and it does not have meaning separately if not accompanying other word like a verb or an adjective.

НЕТ can be either a particle like HE, or a conjunction. Similar to HE, НЕТ is also an auxiliary part of speech. It is used for a negative answer to a question;

-  Disagreement, rejection

Вы будете завтра на работе? – Нет, не буду, я работаю дистанционно;

- Expressing surprise or disbelieving (similar to “Really?”)

Нет, вы только посмотрите на эту работу: вот это высокое качество!

-         For strengthening of already expressed negation, pointing to the previous negative statement:

Вы будете завтракать? – Нет, я уже сказал, что не буду завтракать;

! Usually, a particle cannot be a subject, object or a predicate of a sentence. However, in Russian, “Нет” can be a predicate in impersonal sentence:

Где ваш директор? – Его нет в офисе, он в командировке.

!! «Нет» can be a conjunction (in colloquial speech) when it is combined with particles «да», «так», «же». usually it emphasizes the negative statement.

For example,

Она долго не могла найти работу, так нет же, как только её приняли, сразу стала опаздывать.