please do not; used in formal writing or signs to politely request that people refrain from an action

better to go without than to accept something of poor quality; would rather have nothing than settle for a shoddy or substandard option

to kill on the spot with the authority of the law; specifically, to kill a criminal resisting arrest or a person committing a violent act without fear of prosecution

(proverb) Do not neglect a good deed just because it seems minor; implies that every act of kindness is significant. Often paired with [[勿以恶小而为之|勿以惡小而為之|wu4 yi3 e4 xiao3 er2 wei2 zhi1]].

(idiom) a hidden dragon should not act; used to describe a person of great talent who stays in hiding or waits for the right moment before taking action

not to miss a good opportunity; to make hay while the sun shines

Do not pursue a defeated or trapped enemy too hard so as to avoid a desperate counterattack; (by extension) one should not push a person too far

Literally "do not say that it was not foretold"; a stern warning or ultimatum often used in diplomatic contexts to indicate that action will be taken if a warning is ignored.

(idiom) to put an issue or proposal to one side for the moment; to leave a matter as it is for now without further discussion

to recover quickly from an illness; a set phrase used to wish someone a speedy recovery without the further need for medicine

by no means; must not. This is a formal or emphatic way to say [[千万|千萬|qian1 wan4]] do not.

A proverb suggesting that one should not commit an evil act simply because it seems small or insignificant, as all bad deeds have consequences; often paired with [[勿以善小而不为|勿以善小而不為|wu4 yi3 shan4 xiao3 er2 bu4 wei2]]

in a hurry; in a rushed or hasty manner

Common slogan urging people to never forget national humiliation, specifically referring to the 1931 Mukden Incident [[九一八事变|九一八事變|jiu3 yi1 ba1 shi4 bian4]] and the subsequent Japanese invasion of Manchuria

forget-me-not flower; any plant of the genus Myosotis

a small flowering plant, usually with blue flowers, native to Europe and often worn as a symbol of remembrance

a tool used to scratch one's own back, typically made of bamboo or wood

to not use; please don't; no need to

to recover from an illness without needing medicine; to get well

to get well without the need for medical treatment

(Internet slang) common or basic operation, so do not be over-impressed; used to tell people there is no need to make a fuss because this is a standard display of skill

this is just a basic operation, no need to shout praise; internet slang used to play down one's impressive performance as something routine

better to be the head of a chicken than the rump of an ox; to prefer being a leader in a small group to being a follower in a large one

(idiom) to prefer to be politically Left rather than Right; a mindset particularly common during the Cultural Revolution where being ideologically radical was seen as safer than being moderate or conservative.conservative

Wait patiently and do not be restless; take it easy for a while

Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you; idiom from the Confucian Analects meaning that if you do not want something done to yourself, do not do it to others.

take care not to; please do not; must not; a strong warning used to urge someone to avoid a specific action

to not strike back or take revenge after being offended or provoked; to show forbearance or magnanimity towards those who commit an offense

proverb meaning that one should not employ someone if they are distrusted, and one should not maintain doubts about someone once they have been given a task or position

don't hire people you don't trust, and don't distrust those you have hired

Stay calm and do not get impatient; just wait a moment without getting excited.

don't forget your friends or those who helped you when you become wealthy or successful

Please do not smoke

Used as a polite request to avoid interruptions, often seen on signs in hotels or offices.

serious inquiries only; literal meaning "if not sincere, please do not disturb"