How to Say ‘Don't want’ in Simplified Chinese
不要
bú yào
[bú yào]
💬 Usage Tip: It's said (bú yào), not (bù yào), because 不 shifts tone before the falling tone of 要.
🇨🇳 In China: A firm 不要 is the normal way to wave off street sellers or touts. It's blunt but perfectly acceptable, and adding 谢谢 "thanks" softens it.
Phrase Breakdown
不要
bú yào
[bú yào]
don't want; no thanks
Used on its own to refuse something you are offered.
我不要袋子。
I don't want a bag.
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