不要

Learning Chinese: How to Say "No" in Chinese

Chinese Characters: 不要
Pinyin: bù yào
Pronunciation: boo4 yao4
English Translation: Don't; No

Usage:

"不要 (bù yào)" is the most common way to say "no" in Chinese. It can be used in both formal and informal settings.

Example:

Chinese: 不要吃糖。
Pinyin: Bù yào chī táng.
English: Don't eat candy.
Variations:

There are a few variations of "不要 (bù yào)" that you may hear:

不行 (bù xíng): A more formal way to say "no", literally meaning "not possible."
不可以 (bù kě yǐ): Another formal way to say "no", literally meaning "not allowed."
没门儿 (méi ménr): A more informal way to say "no", literally meaning "no way."
Tips for Learning:

Practice saying "不要 (bù yào)" out loud to improve your pronunciation.
Listen to native Chinese speakers saying "no" to get a sense of the natural rhythm and intonation.
Use "不要 (bù yào)" in your daily conversations to practice using it in context.
Additional Notes:

"不要 (bù yào)" is typically used to express a negative response to a request or suggestion.
To say "no" to an invitation, you can say "不了 (bù liǎo)", which means "no, thank you."
In some regions of China, people may also use "没得 (méi de)" to say "no."