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勿 (wù) — do not (formal, literary, used in signs and written prohibitions)

Definition

A literary/classical 'do not' used mainly on signs and slogans, not in everyday speech. Negate imperatives (请勿打扰) rather than negate verbs.

adverb
do not (formal, literary, used in signs and written prohibitions)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 。
    Qǐng wù dǎ rǎo.
    Please do not disturb.
  • 勿，。
    wù Wàng lì shǐ, zhēn xī hé píng.
    Do not forget history, cherish peace.
  • 勿。
    wù Tà cǎo dì.
    Do not step on the grass.

Origin

Pictograph
六书liùshū
象形xiàngxíng

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

假借jiǎjièLater borrowed for its sound alone — the picture has nothing to do with today’s meaning.

The shape first showed blood on a knife, for cutting. It was borrowed for its sound to write 勿 “do not,” so the picture and that meaning are unrelated.

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6

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