Usage note
“不要”用来告诉别人别做某件事，比如在教室里不要跑。
“bù yào” yòng lái gàosù biérén bié zuò mǒu jiàn shì, bǐrú zài jiàoshì lǐ bùyào pǎo.
This word is used to tell someone not to do something, like reminding them not to run in the classroom.
Context note
当你想让别人停止做一件事，或者自己不想做一件事时，可以说“不要”。它用来表达拒绝或禁止。
dāng nǐ xiǎng ràng bié rén tíng zhǐ zuò yī jiàn shì, huò zhě zì jǐ bù xiǎng zuò yī jiàn shì shí, kě yǐ shuō “bù yào”. tā yòng lái biǎo dá jù jué huò jìn zhǐ.
This word is used to tell someone to stop doing something, or to say that you don't want to do something. It expresses refusal or prohibition.
5 examples
不要吃糖
bù yào chī táng
Don't eat candy.
不要乱跑
bù yào luàn pǎo
Don't run around.
不要害怕
bù yào pà huài
Don't be afraid.
不要生气
bù yào shēng qì
Don't get angry.
不要乱说话
bù yào luàn huà kài
Don't talk nonsense.
5 mini stories
妈妈说不要吃太多糖。爸爸说不要玩火。
mā ma shuō bù yào chī tè gēn táng . dà dì shuō bù yào wán huǒ .
Mom says don't eat too much candy. Dad says don't play with fire.
老师说不要说话，安静听讲。
lǎo shī shuō bù yào huà kài , jìng qīn tīng jiǎng .
The teacher says don't talk, listen quietly.
姐姐说弟弟不要乱跑，会摔倒。
jiě jié shuō dì di bù yào luàn pǎo , huì suān dǎo .
The older sister says the younger brother shouldn't run around, he might fall.
妈妈说不要害怕，勇敢些。
mā ma shuō bù yào pà huài , gáng yǒn suō .
Mom says don't be afraid, be brave.
爸爸说不要生气，要冷静。
dà dì shuō bù yào shēng qì , yào jìng lěng .
Dad says don't get angry, stay calm.
Mini dialogue
At the table
A
不要跑，慢慢走。
Bù yào pǎo, màn man zǒu.
Don't run, walk slowly.
B
好的。
Hǎo de.
Okay.
Choosing a snack
A
你要喝水吗？
Nǐ yào hē shuǐ ma?
Do you want to drink water?
B
不要，我想喝果汁。
Bù yào, wǒ xiǎng hē guǒzhī.
No, I want to drink juice.
Related words and contrasts
similar
别
bié
don't (another way to say it)
别 is often used in spoken Chinese, like 别跑 (don't run).
opposite
要
yào
want; need to
要 means 'want' or 'need to', opposite of 不要.