How to Say ‘Don't push yourself, work is important.’ in Traditional Chinese
別勉強啦，工作要緊。
bié miǎn qiáng la gōng zuò yào jǐn
[byeh miǎnqiǎng la gong-dzwaw yàojǐn]
🇹🇼 In Taiwan: Parents in Taiwan often say this to let you off the hook when work clashes with a family event. Still, offering to try your best to come is the gracious response.
Phrase Breakdown
別勉強啦，
bié miǎn qiáng la
Don't push yourself,
A caring way to tell someone not to force themselves. 啦 (la) softens the tone. Pause briefly at the comma.
你不舒服就別勉強啦。
If you don't feel well, don't push yourself.
Words in this phrase
別
bié
[byeh]
don't; no need to
Used to tell someone not to do something, often gently in conversation.
別太緊張，大家來這裡都是想交流。
Don't be too nervous; everyone came here to network.
勉強
miǎn qiáng
[miǎnqiǎng]
to force oneself
To do something with difficulty or reluctantly.
不舒服就不要勉強。
If you don't feel well, don't push yourself.
啦
la
[la]
sentence-final particle (softening)
Makes a statement sound casual and friendly.
沒關係啦。
It's fine, really.
工作要緊。
gōng zuò yào jǐn
work is important
工作 (gōngzuò) means 'work'. 要緊 (yàojǐn) means 'important' or 'urgent'. Both syllables of 要緊 are stressed clearly.
先回去吧，工作要緊。
Go back first. Work comes first.
Words in this phrase
工作
gōng zuò
[gong-dzwaw]
work; job
A job, profession, or the tasks you do as employment.
這份工作很適合剛畢業的人。
This job is very suitable for someone who just graduated.
要緊
yào jǐn
[yàojǐn]
important
Important or urgent.
身體健康最要緊。
Health is the most important.
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