Correct Answer: B
In Chinese, both “不(bù)” and “别(bié)” have negative meanings that can be used as adverbs. However, these two words have different usages.
First, “不(bù)” is used to describe objective fact, such as in “不吃(bùchī), won’t eat,” “不怕(búpà), not afraid of,” “不好(bùhǎo) not good.” On the other hand, “别(bié)” is used to forbid “specific human behaviors” or to “dissuade somebody from doing something,” such as in “别去(biéqù), don’t go,” “别笑(biéxiào), stop laughing” and “别怕(biépà), don’t be afraid of.”
Examples
Jim jīng cháng bùchī wǎnfàn.
Jim 经 常 不吃 晚饭。
Jim often doesn’t eat dinner.
Lisa: I’m afraid of snakes, how about you?
Jack: Wǒ búpà.
Jack：我 不怕。
Lǐ Xīn, biéchī nàgè huài píngguǒ.
李欣，别吃 那个 坏 苹果。
Li Xin, stop eating that rotten apple.
Biépà, Wǒmen hěn ānquán!
别怕， 我们 很 安全！
Don’t be afraid, we are safe!
Second, “不(bù)” is often used in declarative, interrogative, and exclamatory sentences. When “不(bù)” is used in these sentences, the subject can be anybody, such as “我(wǒ)” “你(nǐ)” “Linda,” etc. On the other hand, “别(bié)” is often used in imperative sentences, and the subject is often “你(nǐ) you.”
Examples
Nǐ bùzhīdào běijīng ma?
你 不知道 北京 吗？
Have you not heard of Beijing?
Wǒ bùchī jiǎozi.
我 不吃 饺子。
I don’t eat dumplings.
Tā búshì Lǐ Míng.
他 不是 李明。
He is not Li Ming.
(Nǐ) bié guòlái!
（你）别 过来！
Don’t come here!
(Nǐ) bié dǎrǎo wǒ!
（你）别打扰 我！
Leave me alone!
In addition, when the two words are used to describe adjectives, “别(bié)” can only be used to describe those words that are about people’s feelings, such as in “别难过(bié nánguò), don’t be sad” and “别担心(bié dānxīn), don’t worry.” “不(bù),” on the other hand, can be used to describe many kinds of adjectives, such as in “不担心(bù dānxīn), not worried” and “不好(bùhǎo), not good.”
Example
Linda: Zhāng Wěi shēntǐ bùhǎo ma?
Linda：张 伟 身体 不好 吗？
Linda: Is Zhang Wei in poor health?
Jason: Bié dānxīn, tāméishì.
Jason：别 担心， 他没事。
Jason: Don’t worry, he is fine.
Translation of the dialogue:
Mike: Lucy, bié zài zhèlǐ tíngchē.
Mike：Lucy，别 在 这里 停车。
Mike: Lucy, don’t park here.
Lucy: Wèishénme?
Lucy：为什么？
Mike: There is no parking allowed here.
In the above test, Lucy is not allowed to park, thus we should use the negative word “别(bié),” which is used to forbid a specific behavior. Therefore, the correct answer is B.
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