(bú yào) - do not (imperative negation) in Mandarin
búyàoTraditional: 不要
Translation
do not (imperative negation)
Word origin
A two-character expression: 不 'not' plus 要 'to want' (originally a pictograph of a woman with hands at the waist). Together 不要 is the prohibitive 'do not' or 'do not want'.
- Origin
- compound
- Root
- 不 (not) + 要 (want)
Stroke order
不
要
Examples
，。
Do not worry, it is fine.
课。
Do not use your phone during class.
，。
Do not say it like that, he will be upset.
。
Do not touch that cup.
。
Please do not speak loudly.
Where this fits
Used in
Grammar articles
(4)Mandarin Intermediate Grammar (B1-B2 / HSK 4-5): Complements, Conjunctions and the Full 了 System
Mandarin Negation: 不 (bù) vs 没 (méi), and Why 不有 Does Not Exist
Mandarin Requests and Imperatives: 请, 别, 不要, the Softening Particles 吧/啊, and Verb Reduplication
Yes-No Questions in Mandarin: 吗 (ma), Echo Answers, and the Bounce-Back 呢 (ne)
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不要: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the Mandarin word "不要" (do not (imperative negation)): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 2.