勿要
勿要乱扔垃圾。
Do not litter.
A formal or literary way to say 'do not' in Chinese, often used in written language or classical expressions.
勿要忘记今日之誓言。
Do not forget today's vow.
勿要轻信陌生人。
Do not trust strangers easily.
Commonly seen in classical Chinese texts, public notices, or formal writing. Less frequent in everyday spoken Mandarin.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Avoid overusing '勿要'
In daily conversation, use '不要' (bù yào) instead of '勿要' unless you are writing classical Chinese or formal documents. '勿要' may sound overly formal or archaic in casual settings.
Gold Rule
When to use '勿要'
Use '勿要' in formal notices, classical Chinese texts, or when you want to emphasize a prohibition in a literary or poetic context. For example: '勿要随地吐痰' (Do not spit anywhere) on public signs.
Word Origin
Combines '勿' (wù, meaning 'not') and '要' (yào, meaning 'want/need'). '勿' is an ancient character used as a negative adverb in classical Chinese, while '要' retains its original meaning of 'to demand' or 'to request'. The compound '勿要' emerged as a fixed phrase in classical Chinese grammar.
Usage Notes
While '勿要' is grammatically correct, modern Mandarin prefers '不要' (bù yào) in most contexts. '勿要' is primarily used in formal writing, classical Chinese, or poetic language to convey a stronger or more urgent tone than '不要'.