别 (bié) — don't (used before verbs to form negative imperatives); other, another (bound form, e.g. 别人, 别处)

别 (bié) is the casual "don't" used before verbs in negative commands (别说话 = "don't talk"). It also means "other/another" in bound forms like 别人; for a stand-alone "another," use 另 or 另外.

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 別; 别 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 別 pairs 冎 (bone) with 刀 (knife), showing a knife cutting up bone and flesh. The simplified 别 is a shorthand, so its parts are not the historical components.