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Chinese Grammar Bank
HOW TO USE 别 IN CHINESE
In Mandarin Chinese, negative commands (prohibitions) are commonly formed using the word 别 (bié), which is equivalent to “don’t” in English.
This word is placed before the verb to indicate that the action should not be performed.
BASIC STRUCTURE
The basic structure of a negative command with 别 is:
PATTERN
别 + Verb (+ Object)
This structure simply means “Don’t do [something].” Below are more detailed sections, including examples in table format.
SIMPLE COMMANDS
In simple commands, you use 别 followed by a verb to tell someone not to perform a specific action.
| 别说话! | Bié shuōhuà! | Don’t talk! |
| 别走! | Bié zǒu! | Don’t leave! |
| 别笑! | Bié xiào! | Don’t laugh! |
COMMANDS WITH AN OBJECT
When you include an object, the structure becomes 别 + Verb + Object, indicating not to perform the action on that specific object.
| 别吃蛋糕! | Bié chī dàngāo! | Don’t eat the cake! |
| 别忘记你的书! | Bié wàngjì nǐ de shū! | Don’t forget your book! |
| 别拿我的手机! | Bié ná wǒ de shǒujī! | Don’t take my phone! |
SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS
Chinese commands with “别” are often used in daily life.
In formal or polite contexts, however, people might avoid direct commands and use softer suggestions instead, such as “不要”, which also means don’t but is more formal than “别”.
“最好不要”… , means “It’s best not to…”, and “尽量不要” means “try not to”.
These expressions are more polite and appropriate for more formal situations.
不要 (bú yào) – “Don’t”
最好不要 (zuìhǎo búyào) – “It’s best not to”
尽量不要 (jìnliàng búyào) – “Try not to”
不要 (bú yào) – “Don’t”
不要 is the standard way to politely tell someone not to do something.
Its tone is neutral so it can be used in both formal and informal settings, it’s more formal than “别“ but it’s more direct than other polite forms.
It’s equivalent to “do not” in English and can be used for commands or prohibitions that are clear but not overly harsh.
| 不要迟到！ | Bú yào chídào! | Don’t be late! |
| 不要说话！ | Bú yào shuōhuà! | Don’t talk! |
| 不要乱扔垃圾！ | Bú yào luàn rēng lājī! | Don’t litter! |
最好不要 (zuìhǎo búyào) – “It’s best not to”
最好不要 is a more polite and indirect way to tell someone not to do something.
It expresses a suggestion or advice rather than a direct command, without sounding as forceful as 不要.
| 最好不要迟到。 | Zuìhǎo búyào chídào | It’s best not to be late. |
| 最好不要吃太多糖。 | Zuìhǎo búyào chī tài duō táng | It’s best not to eat too much sugar. |
| 最好不要在晚上跑步。 | Zuìhǎo búyào zài wǎnshàng pǎobù | It’s best not to run at night. |
尽量不要 (jìnliàng búyào) – “Try not to”
尽量不要 translates to “try not to,” indicating that the action should be avoided if possible, but it’s not an absolute rule.
This phrase is frequently used when flexibility is allowed, or when you don’t want to sound too strict.
| 尽量不要迟到! | Jìnliàng búyào chídào! | Try not to be late! |
| 尽量不要喝太多咖啡! | Jìnliàng búyào hē tài duō kāfēi! | Try not to drink too much coffee! |
| 尽量不要在会议中发言! | Jìnliàng búyào zài huìyì zhōng fāyán! | Try not to speak during the meeting! |
别 vs 不要 vs 最好不要 vs 尽量不要
| Expression | Degree of Politeness | Flexibility of Suggestion | Common Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 别 (bié) | Informal, Neutral | Direct | Used in everyday, casual conversation. |
| 不要 (bú yào) | Neutral | Direct command, a bit more formal than 别 | More formal than 别, appropriate for both casual and formal situations |
| 最好不要 (zuìhǎo bú yào) | Polite | Suggestive, implies it’s better not to | Often used to suggest avoiding an action rather than forbidding it. |
| 尽量不要 (jìn liàng bú yào) | Very Polite, Soft | Suggests avoiding an action with flexibility | Ideal for diplomatic or gentle advice. |
SUMMARY
别 (bié): The most common and informal way to tell someone not to do something, often used in everyday, casual conversation.
不要 (bú yào): More formal than 别, appropriate for both casual and formal situations, with a stronger emphasis on prohibition.
最好不要 (zuìhǎo búyào): Polite and softer, often used to suggest avoiding an action rather than forbidding it.
尽量不要 (jìnliàng búyào): The most polite and flexible form, suggesting a recommendation with room for choice, making it ideal for diplomatic or gentle advice.
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FAQs
What does 别 mean in Chinese?
别 means “don’t” or “do not,” used to give a command or advice to stop or avoid doing something.
How to use 别 in a sentence?
别 is placed before a verb to indicate prohibition, as in 别说话 (bié shuōhuà), meaning “don’t talk.”
Is 别 only used for giving negative commands?
Yes, 别 is specifically for negative commands, suggesting that someone should refrain from doing an action.
Can 别 be used with polite forms?
别 can be used politely by adding words like 请, as in 请别担心 (qǐng bié dānxīn), meaning “please don’t worry.”
What’s the difference between 别 and 不要?
Both mean “don’t,” but 别 is more direct and informal, often used in spoken language, while 不要 can be slightly softer or more formal.
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