Negative commands with "buyao"

You can use 不要 (bùyào) to mean "don't." 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 打 我 ！ Bùyào dǎ wǒ! Don't hit me!
• 不要 说话 ！ Bùyào shuōhuà! Don't talk!
• 不要 吃 很 多 肉 。 Bùyào chī hěn duō ròu. Don't eat a lot of meat.
• 小 孩子 不要 喝 酒 。 Xiǎo háizi bùyào hē jiǔ. Small kids doesn't want to drink alcohol.
• 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 出门 。 Bùyào chūmén. Don't go out.
• 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.
• 不要 离开 我 ！ Bùyào líkāi wǒ! Don't leave me!

See also

• Negative commands with bie