Sentence PatternsHSK 3

Expressing "stop doing" with 别… 了

Use 别…了 to tell someone to stop doing an action that is currently happening. Remember to place 了 at the end to signal the desire to cease the activity.

Structure

别 + Verb/Verb Phrase + 了

works with a verb or verb phrase

Examples

别说了，我不想听。
Bié shuō le , wǒ bù xiǎng tīng.
Stop talking. I don't want to listen.
别看了，睡觉！
Bié kàn le , shuìjiào!
Stop watching. Go to sleep!
别哭了！
Bié kū le !
Stop crying!
别吃了，我们要迟到了。
Bié chī le , wǒmen yào chídào le.
Stop eating. We're going to be late.
别玩了，去写作业。
Bié wán le , qù xiě zuòyè.
Stop playing. Do your homework.

Words that use this

别biéto leave; to part (from); (literary) to differentiate; to distinguish; (bound form) other; another; different; don't ...!; to fasten with a pin or clip; to stick in; to insert (in order to hinder movement); (noun suffix) category (e.g. 性别, 派别)
了le(completed action marker); (modal particle indicating change of state); (modal particle intensifying preceding clause)