勿 wù don’t

源How it came to be

A knife with pieces flying off it, or a banner with its streamers; the old dictionary gives the second. Borrowed early for telling somebody not to, and kept.

用How it is used

• Literary/imperative 'do not' - on signs and notices - 请勿吸烟 (qǐng wù xīyān) no smoking, 请勿打扰 (qǐng wù dǎrǎo) do not disturb.
• The formal, written equivalent of 别/不要; you see it on signage far more than you hear it.
• 务必 vs 切勿: 切勿 (qièwù) = 'be sure not to', a strong warning.

字Characters built with 勿

• 踢 kick
• 物 thing
• 易 easy
• 忽 suddenly
• 匆 hastily
• 剔 to pick out
• 吻 to kiss
• 惕 cautious
• 赐 to give
• 锡 tin
• 黎 many