不要 (negative command)

• Pinyin: bùyào
• Formation: 不要 + Verb (+ Object)
• Hanzi breakdown: 不 = pictograph of a bird flying upward (negation); 要 = 覀 (west/cover) + 女 (woman)

Meaning

Use 不要 (bùyào) before a verb to express a stronger or more emphatic negative command meaning 'do not.' It is slightly more formal or forceful than 别, and is often used in written instructions, rules, or when emphasizing a prohibition.

不要 functions similarly to 别 but carries a heavier, more deliberate tone. While 别 is casual and conversational, 不要 can sound more serious or parental. It is frequently seen on signs, in official notices, and in situations where the speaker wants to stress that an action is forbidden. In spoken Chinese, 不要 is sometimes shortened to 别 for convenience. Parents often use 不要 when scolding children, and teachers use it to set classroom rules. The tone of 不要 depends heavily on context — it can range from gentle advice to stern prohibition.

Examples

1. 不要在走廊里跑步。 Don't run in the hallway.
2. 你不要迟到，老师会不高兴。 Don't be late, the teacher will be unhappy.
3. 考试的时候不要看别人的答案。 Don't look at other people's answers during the exam.

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: imperative

Do Say

• 不要随便翻别人的东西。
• 你不要总是熬夜。
• 上课的时候不要玩手机。

Don't Say

• 不要你说话。(不要 goes before the verb, not before the subject — the subject should precede 不要) → 你不要说话。
• 不要了吃零食。(了 should not be inserted between 不要 and the verb) → 不要吃零食了。
• 不要是生气。(不要 cannot negate 是 — use 别生气 or 不要生气 without 是) → 不要生气。

Origin & History

不要 is a compound of the negation particle 不 and the verb 要 (to want/will). Literally meaning 'do not want to,' it evolved into a standard prohibitive expression used to forbid or discourage actions.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal