Negative commands with "bie"

This is one of the few times that Chinese language seems to have a "contraction." Instead of saying "do not," we can say "don't" by using 别 (bié).

Structure

As well as 不要 (bùyào), negative commands can also be formed with 别 (bié). You could think of 别 (bié) as a contraction of 不要 (bùyào), as the structure is the same for both:

别 + Verb + (Obj.)

Examples

• 别 走。Bié zǒu. Don't leave.
• 别 说话！Bié shuōhuà! Don't speak!
• 别 笑！Bié xiào! Don't laugh!
• 别 动！Bié dòng! Don't move!
• 别 过来！Bié guòlái! Don't come over here!
• 别 打 孩子！Bié dǎ háizi! Don't hit the child!
• 别 喝 太 多。Bié hē tài duō. Don't drink too much.
• 喝 酒 以后 别 开车。Hējiǔ yǐhòu bié kāichē. After drinking alcohol, don't drive.
• 吃饭 的 时候 别 看 电视。Chīfàn de shíhou bié kàn diànshì. When eating, don't watch TV.
• 上课 的 时候 别 说 英文。Shàngkè de shíhou bié shuō Yīngwén. Don't speak English in class.

See also

• Negative commands with "bu yao"

Sources and Further Reading

Videos

• Yoyo Chinese: Negative commands

Books

• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (p. 155) →buy
• Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 325) →buy
• A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法) (pp. 46-47) →buy