千万 (be sure to / whatever you do)
"Whatever you do, be sure to…"
- ten million千万 = "be sure to / by all means" — an urgent plea.
- 千万别to arrive late迟到 = "whatever you do, don't be late!"
- It's most common with don't别 / don't不要 (a strong warning).
ten million千万 + (don't别 / want / will / need要) + Verb
- ten million千万 stresses how important the instruction is.
you你be sure千万don't别be late迟到!
- 千万别to arrive late迟到 = "be sure not to be late!"
Practice
Whatever you do, don't be late: 你 ____ 别迟到!
千万 + 别 + Verb = be sure not to: 千万别迟到.
Practice
千万 is most often used with 别 / 不要 (a warning).
Yes: 千万别…, 千万不要… (whatever you do, don't…).
Earnest, not casual
- ten million千万 carries real urgency — you really mean it.
Explore
Correct or broken?
千万 begs: whatever you do, … — urgings only, glued before 别/要.
Practice
What tone does 千万 carry?
千万 = a strong plea, usually with 别 / 不要.
Recap
Key idea
- ten million千万 + don't别 / want / will / need要 + Verb — "be sure to / whatever you do …"
- 千万别to arrive late迟到 = don't be late, no matter what!
- An urgent, earnest instruction
Read the full reference: HSK 4 grammar — Adverbs.