勿 meaning and stroke order
Do not
How to write 勿, stroke by stroke
4 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
Meaning of 勿
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- do not
How 勿 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A knife 勹 cutting fragments 丿 off.
Radical: 勹 (wrap), shared by 14 characters on this site.
How to remember 勿
Picture 勹 as a knife blade with two extra strokes 丿丿 slicing off fragments. A knife cutting things away is a firm warning: do not touch, 勿 (wù).
勿 is a formal, written way to say "do not." You see it mostly on signs, notices and in set phrases like 请勿 (qǐngwù) and 切勿 (qièwù), not in casual speech, where people say 别 (bié) or 不要 (bú yào). Example: 请勿吸烟。(Qǐng wù xīyān.) Please do not smoke.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 勿 with 匆 (cōng, hurried), which has one extra dot inside, and with 物 (wù, thing), which adds 牛 on the left. Also do not use 勿 in everyday conversation, since saying 勿去 to a friend sounds stiff and old-fashioned.
Common words with 勿
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
勿 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 勿
Learning 勿 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 勿
How many strokes are in 勿?
勿 is written with 4 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 勿 mean?
勿 (wù) means do not. A common word with it is 请勿 (qǐngwù), meaning "please don't".
How do you pronounce 勿?
勿 is pronounced wù, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 勿?
The radical of 勿 is 勹, which carries the idea of "wrap". Dictionaries list 勿 under this radical.
Is 勿 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 勿 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 勿 and 别?
Both mean "don't," but 别 (bié) is spoken and casual, while 勿 is formal and written. A friend says 别走 (bié zǒu), but a sign in a hotel says 请勿打扰 (qǐngwù dǎrǎo).
Why does 勿 appear in so many signs and idioms?
勿 comes from classical Chinese, so it keeps a short, serious tone that suits public notices and fixed expressions. Phrases like 格杀勿论 (géshā wùlùn) and the saying 己所不欲，勿施于人 (do not do to others what you do not want yourself) preserve this older style.