Chinese word

不许

Pronunciation

Pinyinbù xǔ

Meaning

  • verbmust not

Example

这里不许抽烟。zhè lǐ bù xǔ chōu yān

Smoking is not allowed here.

Illustration for 不许 (must not)

More examples

公园里不许随地吐痰。gōng yuán lǐ bù xǔ suí dì tǔ tán

Spitting on the ground is not allowed in the park.

Core concept

The word places an official stop before an action, showing that permission is withheld.

Common phrases

  • 不许带宠物bù xǔ dài chǒng wù

    must not bring pets

  • 不许触摸bù xǔ chù mō

    must not touch

  • 不许随地吐痰bù xǔ suí dì tǔ tán

    must not spit on the ground

Similar words

禁止jìn zhǐ: Sets an official ban on an action.
不准bù zhǔn: Does not permit an action to take place.
不得bù dé: States in formal writing that an action must not be done.
不能bù néng: Expresses inability to do something because of limited ability or conditions.

Definition in Chinese

用来禁止别人做某事，相当于“不允许”，多用于对人直接下命令或在规则中表示不可。yòng lái jìn zhǐ bié rén zuò mǒu shì xiāng dāng yú bù yún xǔ duō yòng yú duì rén zhí jiē xià mìng lìng huò zài guī zé zhōng biǎo shì bù kě

Word origin

不 (bù, "not") + 许 (xǔ, "permit") denies permission and forms a direct prohibition.

Usage tips

  • English often uses "cannot" for both inability and prohibition, but this word signals a ban, whereas 不能 (bùnéng, "cannot") signals lack of ability.

Other meanings

  • not allowverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word