Negative commands with "bie"
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Level
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Similar to
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Used for
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Keywords
Instead of saying "do not" with 不要 (bùyào), we can say "don't" a little more quickly and forcefully 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。Don't leave.
- 别 说话!Don't speak!
- 别 笑!Don't laugh!
- 别 动!Don't move!
- 别 过来!Don't come over here!
- 别 打 孩子!Don't hit the child!
- 别 喝 太 多。Don't drink too much.
- 喝 酒 以后 别 开车。After drinking alcohol, don't drive.
- 吃饭 的 时候 别 玩 手机 。When eating, don't play with your cell phone.
- 上课 的 时候 别 说 英文。Don't speak English in class.
See also
Sources and Further Reading
Videos
- Yoyo Chinese: Negative commands