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auxiliary verb / adverb HSK 4
Traditional 不準
bù zhǔn
not allowed · forbidden · must not

Meaning

不准 is a prohibition word meaning something is not permitted or forbidden. It combines 不 (not) with 准 (to allow/permit), creating a strong negative command. It's commonly used in rules, regulations, and direct commands to indicate what people must not do.

Usage

不准 is fairly direct and authoritative, often seen on signs, in rules, or when parents/teachers give commands. It's stronger than 不要 (don't) but slightly less formal than 禁止 (prohibited). Commonly used in the pattern 不准 + verb to forbid an action.

Examples

  1. 01
    考试的时候不准用手机。
    Kǎo shì de shí hòu bù zhǔn yòng shǒu jī.
    You're not allowed to use your phone during the exam.
  2. 02
    这里不准拍照。
    Zhè lǐ bù zhǔn pāi zhào.
    Photography is not permitted here.

Characters

Common collocations

  • 不准进入
    bù zhǔn jìn rù
    no entry, entry forbidden
  • 不准吸烟
    bù zhǔn xī yān
    no smoking
  • 不准停车
    bù zhǔn tíng chē
    no parking
  • 不准说话
    bù zhǔn shuō huà
    no talking

Antonyms

Origin

准 originally meant 'standard' or 'accurate' in classical Chinese, later developing the meaning 'to approve/allow'. Combined with negation 不, it forms a straightforward prohibition.

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