Introduction
别 (bié) means "don't". It is the word for telling someone not to do something, and it only ever appears in commands: 别走！(Bié zǒu!) — Don't go! A statement about not doing something takes 不 (bù) or 没 (méi) instead.
Overview
Structure: 别 (bié) + Verb (+ Obj.)
| Pattern | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 别 + V | 别走！(Bié zǒu!) | Don't go! |
| 别 + V + O | 别看手机。(Bié kàn shǒujī.) | Don't look at your phone. |
| 别 + V + 了 | 别说了。(Bié shuō le.) | Stop talking. |
| 请别 + V | 请别抽烟。(Qǐng bié chōuyān.) | Please don't smoke. |
| 别 + V + 吧 | 别去吧。(Bié qù ba.) | Let's not go. |
别 (bié) is only for commands:
- 别走。(Bié zǒu.) — Don't go. You are telling someone.
- 我不走。(Wǒ bù zǒu.) — I'm not going. You are describing yourself.
- 我没走。(Wǒ méi zǒu.) — I didn't go. You are describing the past.
- ❌ 我别走 (wǒ bié zǒu) is not a sentence. 别 never has a subject doing the not-doing.
Examples
别走，再坐一会儿。
Bié zǒu, zài zuò yíhuìr.
Don't go, stay a bit longer.
吃饭的时候别看手机。
Chī fàn de shíhou bié kàn shǒujī.
Don't look at your phone while eating.
别说了，我知道了。
Bié shuō le, wǒ zhīdào le.
Stop, I get it.
请别抽烟，这儿不能抽。
Qǐng bié chōuyān, zhèr bù néng chōu.
Please don't smoke, it isn't allowed here.
别担心，没问题。
Bié dānxīn, méi wèntí.
Don't worry, it's fine.
太晚了，别去了吧。
Tài wǎn le, bié qù le ba.
It's late — let's not go.
Usage Notes
- 别……了 (bié … le) means stop doing what you are already doing: 别说了。(Bié shuō le.) — Stop talking. Without 了, 别说 (bié shuō) means "don't say it" about something not yet said.
- 不要 (bú yào) means the same as 别 (bié) and is a touch more formal or more forceful: 不要走！(Bú yào zǒu!)
- 请 (qǐng) softens it and 吧 (ba) softens it further: 请别抽烟 (qǐng bié chōuyān)，别去吧 (bié qù ba).
- 别 (bié) is 2nd tone — bié. It is the same character as the 别 in 别的 (bié de) meaning "other", and only the position tells you which.
- On a sign or a rule, the wording is usually 不能 (bù néng) or 请勿 (qǐng wù), not 别: 这儿不能抽烟。(Zhèr bù néng chōuyān.)