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:

Examples

别走。Bié zǒu.Don't leave.
别说话！Bié shuōhuà! Don't speak!
别笑！Bié xiào! Don't laugh!
别动！Bié dòng!Don't move!
别过来！Bié guòlái! Don't come over here!
别打孩子！Bié dǎ háizi!Don't hit the child!
别喝太多。Bié hē tài duō.Don't drink too much.
喝酒以后别开车。Hējiǔ yǐhòu bié kāichē.After drinking alcohol, don't drive.
吃饭的时候别玩手机。Chīfàn de shíhou bié wán shǒujī.When eating, don't play with your cell phone.
上课的时候别说英文。Shàngkè de shíhou bié shuō Yīngwén.Don't speak English in class.

Structure

Examples

See also

Sources and Further Reading

Videos

Books