Learn the basics of the imperative mood: the subject is usually omitted, and the verb is used in the base form. Understand how to give commands, requests, and advice, with examples and practice exercises. Suitable for beginners.
The imperative mood gives commands, requests, or advice and is useful for quick, practical speech. This guide covers the basic forms for Mandarin Chinese, including polite and casual ways to tell someone to do something.
Positive commands in Mandarin often use the bare verb stem, and your tone carries force without extra words. For example, telling someone to "come" or "eat" is usually just the verb itself.
To soften a command into a polite request, add 请 qǐng before the verb. 请 signals respect and is common in service interactions and formal situations. It literally means "please" and makes your order sound courteous rather than brusque.
Negative commands use the structure 别 bié plus the verb for casual speech, or 不要 bù yào plus the verb for more formal or strong prohibitions. Use 别 with friends and 不要 in signs or when addressing strangers.
To soften commands further, add phrases like 麻烦你 máfan nǐ ("could you please") or 拜托 bàituō ("I beg you / please") before the verb. These expressions turn orders into appeals and show humility.
For gentle suggestions rather than direct commands, use verbs like 可以 kěyǐ ("can / may"), 应该 yīnggāi ("should"), or 来 lái plus a verb. These forms invite agreement and give the listener room to decide.
To include yourself and others in a plan, use the pattern 我们 wǒmen plus the verb, so the command feels like a joint action. This is common in group settings and makes instructions less bossy.
The imperative mood relies on word order and small particles to signal force or politeness. Use the bare verb for quick commands, 请 for polite requests, 别 / 不要 for negatives, and softeners like 麻烦你 to be courteous. Practice switching tones to fit context.
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