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March 24, 2026
不要()búyào(bu2yao4)
不要 (bù yào) means 'don't' or 'must not' in Mandarin. It is used to express prohibition or to advise against doing something. Commonly used in both spoken and written contexts, it conveys a strong suggestion to refrain from an action.
Frequency#199DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the use of 不要 can reflect the importance of community and collective values, where individuals are often advised not to act in ways that could disrupt harmony.
Memory Tip
Think of 不 (bù) as a stop sign and 要 (yào) as 'want' or 'need.' Together, 不要 visually represents a sign that says 'Do not want' or 'Stop wanting to do this.' Picture someone raising their hand to stop you, effectively saying, 'Don't do that!'
Meanings of 不要
búyào(bu2yao4)
1don't!
2must not
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About 不要
不要Simplified
Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
副词fùcíadverb (adv.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L1ElementaryTOCFLL2YCTL3HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 不要
Podcast: 不要
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AI Study Notes for 不要
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 不 (bù) as a stop sign and 要 (yào) as 'want' or 'need.' Together, 不要 visually represents a sign that says 'Do not want' or 'Stop wanting to do this.' Picture someone raising their hand to stop you, effectively saying, 'Don't do that!'
Usage Notes
When using 不要, learners often forget to apply the correct tone, which can change the meaning. It's generally informal and can be used with friends or in casual settings. Be cautious with tone, as saying '不要' with a rising tone may confuse listeners.
HSK Study Tips
不要 is often encountered in HSK 2 vocabulary, connecting to other negation words like 没有 (méi yǒu) and 不是 (bù shì). Focus on using it in context with verbs to express actions you want to prohibit.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the use of 不要 can reflect the importance of community and collective values, where individuals are often advised not to act in ways that could disrupt harmony.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly say 不要 (bù yào) with incorrect tones, such as bù yáo, which does not convey the intended prohibition. Always ensure to use the correct tones for clarity.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 不要
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Cultural Notes for 不要
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the use of 不要 can reflect the importance of community and collective values, where individuals are often advised not to act in ways that could disrupt harmony.
Frequently Asked Questions about 不要
It's best to avoid using 不要 in formal contexts; instead, use phrases like 请不要 (qǐng bù yào) for a more polite request.
Yes, both mean 'don't,' but 不要 is slightly more direct, while 别 is more informal and often used in conversational settings.
Simply place 不要 before the verb you want to negate, for example, 不要说 (bù yào shuō) means 'don't speak'.
