千万
Traditional: 千萬
qiān wàn HSK 4

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

你千万别迟到。
Nǐ qiānwàn bié chídào.
You absolutely must not be late.
我千万要记住这件事。
Wǒ qiānwàn yào jìzhù zhè jiàn shì.
I absolutely must remember this.
他千万不能喝酒。
Tā qiānwàn bùnéng hē jiǔ.
He absolutely cannot drink alcohol.
你千万要小心。
Nǐ qiānwàn yào xiǎoxīn.
You must be careful.
千万别说出去。
Qiānwàn bié shuō chūqù.
Absolutely do not tell anyone.

💡 Memory Tip

Think of 千万 as 'a thousand and ten thousand'—imagine someone repeating a warning thousands of times to stress its importance, like 'You must, must, MUST remember this!'

📝 Usage Notes

It is commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese, in informal to semi-formal contexts, such as giving advice, warnings, or reminders. It often appears in imperative sentences to stress urgency, like in safety instructions or travel tips.

📖 Grammar Points

Typically used before a verb or verb phrase, often with 要 or 不要 to form structures like 千万要 + V (must do) or 千万不要 + V (must not do). It can also stand alone in short warnings, e.g., 千万小心!

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, 千万 reflects a caring or protective attitude, often used by elders or friends to show concern. It underscores the value placed on caution and preparedness in daily life.

🔄 Similar Words

Similar to 一定 (yīdìng), which also means 'must,' but 千万 is more emphatic and cautionary, often used in negative warnings (e.g., 千万不要). 必须 (bìxū) is more neutral and mandatory, like 'have to,' without the urgent warning tone.

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