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.
See also
Sources and Further Reading
Videos
Books
Category:A2 grammar points