不要

bú yào

don’t

HSK Level 2

Example Sentences

不要着急,慢慢来。

bùyào zháojí, mànman lái.

Don't worry, take it slow.

不要放弃,继续努力。

bùyào fàngqì, jìxù nǔlì.

Don't give up, keep trying.

不要害怕,勇敢面对。

bùyào hàipà, yǒnggǎn miàn duì.

Don't be afraid, face it bravely.

Synonyms

Antonyms

需要 (xūyào)

need

必须 (bìxū)

must

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Etymology & Components

The Chinese word 不要 (bù yào) is composed of two characters: 不 (bù) and 要 (yào). 不 is a negative particle that negates the meaning of the following word, while 要 is a verb that means "to want" or "to need". Together, 不要 means "don't want" or "don't need".The character 不 is one of the most common characters in Chinese, and it is used in a variety of contexts. It can be used to negate verbs, adjectives, and nouns. For example, 不好 (bù hǎo) means "not good", 不高兴 (bù gāoxìng) means "not happy", and 不用 (bù yòng) means "don't need".The character 要 is also a common character, and it is used in a variety of contexts. It can be used as a verb, a noun, or an adjective. As a verb, it means "to want" or "to need". As a noun, it means "a request" or "a demand". As an adjective, it means "important" or "necessary".The combination of 不 and 要 creates a new word that has a negative meaning. 不要 means "don't want" or "don't need". It is a common phrase that is used in a variety of contexts. For example, you can use 不要 to tell someone that you don't want something, or you can use it to tell someone that they don't need something.