You can use 不要 (bùyào) to command someone: "don't" (do something).
This is similar to the other negative command "[别
(bié)](Negative_commands_with_bie "wikilink")."

**Note:** The pinyin for 不要 is written "bùyào" but pronounced "búyào"
due to a [tone change
rule](http://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/pronunciation/Tone_change_rules).

Structure
---------

Negative commands in Chinese ("do not" or "don't") are formed with 不要.
Usually the subject is omitted, as in English.

<div class="jiegou">
不要 + Verb

</div>
Examples
--------

<div class="liju">
-   <em>不要</em> 走。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Bùyào</em>
    zǒu.</span><span class="trans">Don't leave.</span>
-   <em>不要</em> 打 我！ <span class="pinyin"><em>Bùyào</em> dǎ
    wǒ!</span><span class="trans">Don't hit me!</span>
-   <em>不要</em> 生气 ， 好吗 ？ <span class="pinyin"><em>Bùyào</em>
    shēngqì, hǎo ma?</span><span class="trans">Don't get angry,
    OK?</span>
-   <em>不要</em> 哭！ <span class="pinyin"><em>Bùyào</em>
    kū!</span><span class="trans">Don't cry!</span>
-   <em>不要</em> 吃 很 多 肉。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Bùyào</em> chī
    hěn duō ròu.</span><span class="trans">Don't eat a lot of
    meat.</span>
-   你们 <em>不要</em> 喝酒。 <span class="pinyin">Nǐmen <em>bùyào</em>
    hējiǔ.</span><span class="trans">You guys, don't drink
    alcohol.</span>
-   <em>不要</em> 说 英文。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Bùyào</em> shuō
    Yīngwén.</span><span class="trans">Don't speak English.</span>
-   晚上 <em>不要</em> 喝 咖啡。 <span class="pinyin">Wǎnshang
    <em>bùyào</em> hē kāfēi.</span><span class="trans">Don't drink
    coffee at night.</span>
-   上课 的 时候 <em>不要</em> 玩 手机！<span class="pinyin">Shàngkè de
    shíhou <em>bùyào</em> wán shǒujī!</span><span class="trans">In class
    don't play with your phone!</span>
-   <em>不要</em> 很 晚 睡觉！ <span class="pinyin"><em>Bùyào</em> hěn
    wǎn shuìjiào.</span><span class="trans">Don't go to bed too
    late.</span>

</div>
See also
--------

-   [Negative commands with bie](Negative_commands_with_bie "wikilink")

Sources and Further Reading
---------------------------