Negative commands with "buyao"

You can use 不要 (bùyào) to command someone: "don't" (do something). This is similar to the other negative command "别 (bié)."

Note: The pinyin for 不要 is written "bùyào" but pronounced "búyào" due to a tone change rule.

Structure

Negative commands in Chinese ("do not" or "don't") are formed with 不要. Usually the subject is omitted, as in English.

不要 + Verb

Examples

• 不要 走。 Bùyào zǒu.Don't leave.
• 不要 打 我！ Bùyào dǎ wǒ!Don't hit me!
• 不要 生气 ， 好吗 ？ Bùyào shēngqì, hǎo ma?Don't get angry, OK?
• 不要 哭！ Bùyào kū!Don't cry!
• 不要 吃 很 多 肉。 Bùyào chī hěn duō ròu.Don't eat a lot of meat.
• 你们 不要 喝酒。 Nǐmen bùyào hējiǔ.You guys, don't drink alcohol.
• 不要 说 英文。 Bùyào shuō Yīngwén.Don't speak English.
• 晚上 不要 喝 咖啡。 Wǎnshang bùyào hē kāfēi.Don't drink coffee at night.
• 上课 的 时候 不要 玩 手机！Shàngkè de shíhou bùyào wán shǒujī!In class don't play with your phone!
• 不要 很 晚 睡觉！ Bùyào hěn wǎn shuìjiào.Don't go to bed too late.

See also

• Negative commands with bie

Sources and Further Reading

• HSK Standard Course 2 (pp. 76) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy

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