Chinese word

勿

Pronunciation

Pinyinwù

Meaning

  • adverbdo not

Example

请勿吸烟。qǐng wù xī yān

Please do not smoke.

Illustration for 勿 (do not)

More examples

图书馆里请勿大声喧哗。tú shū guǎn lǐ qǐng wù dà shēng xuān huá

Please do not make loud noises in the library.

Core concept

A formal gate before a verb that blocks the action from being carried out.

Common phrases

  • 请勿大声喧哗qǐng wù dà shēng xuān huá

    Please do not make loud noises

  • 请勿拍照qǐng wù pāi zhào

    Please do not take photos

Similar words

不要bú yào: A common everyday request for someone not to do something.
别bié: A colloquial command telling someone to stop or not do something.
请勿qǐng wù: A polite written request on signs or notices for people not to do something.
切勿qiè wù: A strong written prohibition meaning that something must never be done.

Definition in Chinese

常用于标识或公文中表示禁止或劝阻，通常与动词连用构成简短指令，相当于口语的“不要”“别”。cháng yòng yú biāo shí huò gōng wén zhōng biǎo shì jìn zhǐ huò quàn zǔ tōng cháng yǔ dòng cí lián yòng gòu chéng jián duǎn zhǐ lìng xiāng dāng yú kóu yǔ de bú yào bié

Word origin

勿 (wù, "do not") shares an ancient source with 毋 (wú, "do not"), preserving an older negative form in modern formal Chinese.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, its short official tone can make a request sound formal rather than conversational.

Other meanings

  • must notadverb

Word lists with this word