Expressing "to make certain" with "qianwan"

千万 (qiān wàn) on the surface seems to just mean "thousand ten thousand," but it actually means "to make certain." It is used when you want to command someone or remind someone to do something (like: "don't forget to clean your room!") It really adds a kick to your sentence!

Structure

千万 usually starts the imperative sentence/phrase (also called command sentence/phrase), and it is usually paired with 要, 不能, 别 or similar types of words. You can use 千万 with sentences that are commanding someone not do do something, or you can tell them to do something.

千万 + Verb/Verb Phrase

千万 with "don't"

The following examples use 千万 to command someone not to do something.

Examples

• 这 个 菜 很 难吃，千万 不要 点！ Zhè gè cài hěn nánchī, qiān wàn bùyào diǎn! This dish is horrible, don't order it!
• 那里 太 危险 了，千万 不要 去！ Nàli tài wēixiǎn le, qiān wàn bùyào qù!It's too dangerous there, don't go!
• 他们 的 产品 是 假 的，你 千万 不要 买！ Tāmen de chǎnpǐn shì jiǎ de, nǐ qiān wàn bùyào mǎi!Their products are all fake, don't buy them!
• 他 不 是 什么 好人，千万 不要 相信 他！ Tā bù shì shénme hǎo rén, qiān wàn bùyào xiāngxìn tā!He is not a good person, don't believe him!
• 孩子 有 错，父母 可以 教育 他， 但 千万 不 能 打 孩子。 Háizi yǒu cuò, fùmǔ kěyǐ jiàoyù tā, dàn qiān wàn bù néng dǎ háizi.When a child does wrong, parents can teach them. But they can't hit them!

千万 with "do"

The following examples use 千万 to command someone to do something.

Examples

• 过 马路 千万 要 小心。Guò mǎlù qiānwàn yào xiǎoxīn.
• 这 句 话 你 千万 要 记 在 心里。Zhè jù huà nǐ qiānwàn yào jì zài xīnli.
• 一个人 去 旅行 千万 要 注意 安全。Yī gèrén qù lǚxíng qiānwàn yào zhùyì ānquán.
• 出门 以前 千万 要 把 门 锁 好。Chūmén yǐqián qiānwàn yào bǎ mén suǒ hǎo.
• 雨天 路 滑， 千万 要 开 慢 点。Yǔtiān lù huá, qiānwàn yào kāi màn diǎn.

See also

• Comparing "kending" "queding" and “yiding"

Sources and further reading

Books

• HSK Standard Course 4下 (pp. 61) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2(P.95) →buy
• Practicing HSK Grammar (语法精讲精炼)(P.42) →buy
• 现代汉语八百词(P.447) →buy

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