The good news: 別 bié almost always works the same way — put it right before the verb (or adjective) you want someone to avoid or stop. Add 了 at the end when the action is already happening and you want it to stop.
1 別 bié + V or SV
別 bié tells someone not to start doing something. It sits right in front of the verb or adjective — no extra grammar needed.
別别跑跑
Don’t run.
別别吃吃太多太多
Don’t eat too much.
別别緊張紧张
Don’t be nervous.
上上中文課中文课別别說说英文英文
Don’t speak English in Chinese class.
別别想想太多太多
Don’t overthink.
我我知道知道我我很很美美，但是但是你你別别愛爱我我
I know I’m beautiful, but don’t love me.
別别裝蒜装蒜！
Don’t play innocent!
💬 別裝蒜 bié zhuāngsuàn
Literally “don’t act like garlic” — used to tell someone to stop pretending they don’t know something they actually do. The phrase comes from a story about officials who tricked an emperor with narcissus flowers standing in for garlic plants he expected to see. Ever since, 裝蒜 has meant faking ignorance to get away with something.
2 別 bié + V + 了
Add 了 le at the end and 別 bié shifts meaning slightly: instead of “don’t start,” it becomes “stop” — asking someone to cut off something already in progress.
別别說说了了
Stop talking.
別别哭哭了了
Stop crying.
別别吃吃了了
Stop eating.
別别吵吵了了
Stop making noise.
別别學学了了！中文中文太太難难了了！
Stop studying! Chinese is too difficult!
⚠️ Common mistake — commands need 別, not 不
不 bù states a fact or a stance (“I don’t ___”); it doesn’t work as a command. To tell someone not to do something, you need 別 bié.
❌你你不不說話说话！
✅你你別别說話说话！
不 states a fact, not a command — for “don’t,” you need 別 bié.
3 Practice
Translate each sentence into Chinese, then tap the card to check your answer.
01Don’t touch that.
別别碰碰那個那个。
👆 Tap to reveal
02Stop yelling.
別别叫叫了了。
👆 Tap to reveal
03Don’t be afraid.
👆 Tap to reveal
04Don’t forget to bring your passport.
別别忘忘了了帶带護照护照。
👆 Tap to reveal
05Stop playing games, it’s already midnight.
別别玩玩遊戲游戏了了，已經已经半夜半夜了了。
👆 Tap to reveal
06Don’t worry about me.
別别擔心担心我我。
👆 Tap to reveal
07Stop laughing!
別别笑笑了了！
👆 Tap to reveal
08Don’t be late tomorrow.
明天明天別别遲到迟到。
👆 Tap to reveal
