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As in the sentences used when giving advice introduced in Lesson 17, when expressing prohibition in Vietnamese, auxiliary verbs are added before the verb depending on the degree and context to create a prohibitory expression.
This time, we will study prohibitory sentences in Vietnamese.
Main Auxiliary Verbs of Prohibition
| Auxiliary Verbs of Prohibition | English | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| không nên | should not ~ | Used when you want to advise someone, indicating that the action is not desirable for them. |
| đừng | please do not ~ don’t ~ |
A slightly stronger advice, indicating that the action is unwelcome. |
| không được | must not ~ / may not ~ | A strong prohibition, forbidding the person from doing the action. |
| cấm | prohibit / forbid | A strong prohibition, typically used in written or formal expressions. |
Basic Sentence Structure
Structure:
(*) In the case of general warnings rather than specific individuals, the subject can be omitted.
Example Sentences:
① Anh không nên chọn sản phẩm này.
You should not choose this product.
② Chị không nên ăn quá nhiều thịt.
You should not eat too much meat.
③ Đừng ăn uống trong giờ học.
Please do not eat or drink during class.
④ Đừng hút thuốc trong quán.
Please do not smoke inside the shop.
⑤ Không được dẫm lên cỏ.
Do not step on the grass. (Keep off the grass.)
⑥ Không được đậu xe quá 5 phút.
Do not park for more than 5 minutes.
⑦ Cấm rẽ trái.
No left turn. (Turning left is prohibited.)
⑧ Cấm đi ngược chiều.
Wrong way. (Going the wrong way is prohibited.)
⑨Cấm mang thực phẩm từ thịt khi nhập cảnh.
No left turn. (Turning left is prohibited.) Bringing in meat products when entering the country is prohibited.
Important Notes
Please note that the auxiliary verb “không được” mentioned above expresses prohibition when followed by a verb, but when followed by an adjective, the meaning changes completely.
* không được ＋ [Adjective] ＝ not very ~
Example Sentences:
① Chị ấy không được khỏe.
She is not very well.
② Vì bố tôi đang bị ốm nên mẹ tôi không được vui.
Because my father is sick, my mother is not very cheerful.