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不准 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
不准bùzhǔnnot to allowHSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #3308, Very Hard
不准bùzhǔnto forbidHSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #3308, Very Hard
不准bùzhǔnto prohibitHSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #3308, Very Hard
bùzhǔn(bu4zhun3)bu zhun T4
  1. 1not to allow
  2. 2to forbid
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March 24, 2026

不准bùzhǔn(bu4zhun3)

不准 (bù zhǔn) means 'not to allow' or 'to prohibit'. It is commonly used in contexts where rules or regulations are set, indicating that something is forbidden or not permitted. This word can appear in both formal settings, such as legal documents, and informal conversations.

Strokes14Frequency#3308DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, respecting rules and regulations is highly valued, and 不准 is often seen in public spaces like parks or transportation systems to maintain order. This reflects the collective attitude towards communal responsibility and harmony.

Memory tip

Imagine a big sign that says 'NO' in bold letters, representing the prohibition. The character 不 (bù) looks like a cross, as in 'no entry', while 准 (zhǔn) resembles a person giving a thumbs-up, which contrasts with the meaning of not allowing. Together, visualize a person trying to enter, but they see the 'NO' sign and realize they are not allowed.

Meanings of 不准

bùzhǔn(bu4zhun3)
1not to allow
2to forbid
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 不准

不准Simplified
14Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

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Podcast: 不准

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AI study notes for 不准

Quick Contrast

禁 (jìn) vs 不准 (bùzhǔn): Use 不准 when emphasizing a prohibition that may have exceptions or is subject to rules, while 禁 indicates a stronger, absolute ban without exceptions.

Usage Notes

Be careful with the tone when pronouncing 不准; the first tone needs to be clear. It is often used with words like '进入' (enter) or '使用' (use) to specify what is prohibited. A common mistake is to use it in a casual context where a softer expression is more appropriate, such as saying '不可以' (not allowed) instead.

HSK Study Tips

不准 is not an HSK vocabulary word, but its components can help learners understand similar expressions in HSK levels. Focus on the contrast between 不 (not) and 准 (allow), as it will aid in grasping other negations and permissions in Chinese.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 不准 with 不能, which can lead to incorrect usage in casual contexts. For example, saying '我不准去' (I do not allow myself to go) instead of the more appropriate '我不能去' (I cannot go).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 不准

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Component characters

不bù(negative prefix)
HSK 14 strokes一
View full entry
准zhǔnto allow
HSK 410 strokes冫
View full entry

How to say not to allow in Chinese

“not to allow” in Chinese is不准bùzhǔn

不准 (bù zhǔn) means 'not to allow' or 'to prohibit'. It is commonly used in contexts where rules or regulations are set, indicating that something is forbidden or not permitted. This word can appear in both formal settings, such as legal documents, and informal conversations.

When to use 不准

Be careful with the tone when pronouncing 不准; the first tone needs to be clear. It is often used with words like '进入' (enter) or '使用' (use) to specify what is prohibited. A common mistake is to use it in a casual context where a softer expression is more appropriate, such as saying '不可以' (not allowed) instead.

不准 or something close to it

禁 (jìn) vs 不准 (bùzhǔn): Use 不准 when emphasizing a prohibition that may have exceptions or is subject to rules, while 禁 indicates a stronger, absolute ban without exceptions.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 不准 with 不能, which can lead to incorrect usage in casual contexts. For example, saying '我不准去' (I do not allow myself to go) instead of the more appropriate '我不能去' (I cannot go).

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不
准

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Frequently asked questions about 不准

Yes, 不准 is generally more formal and is used in official contexts, whereas 不可以 is more common in everyday conversation.

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