千万 (be sure to / whatever you do)
IntroducedGive an emphatic reminder
- A departure time matters and you urge a friend to be punctual.
- be sure千万don't别be late迟到。 — be sure千万 strongly stresses the instruction not to be late.
A departure time matters and you urge a friend to be punctual. What does 千万别迟到。 communicate?
千万 strongly stresses the instruction not to be late. It also appears in positive requests such as 千万要记住. In this use it is an intensifier, not the literal number ten million.
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is be sure千万 (be sure to / whatever you do). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
- Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.
you你be sure千万don't别be late迟到！
Using the lesson pattern in this demonstrated example: Whatever you do, don't be late: 你 ____ 别迟到!
千万 + 别 + Verb = be sure not to: 千万别迟到.
Read examples in context
- In the opening example, be sure千万don't别be late迟到。: be sure千万 strongly stresses the instruction not to be late.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
What tone does 千万 carry?
千万 = a strong plea, usually with 别 / 不要.
Know the boundary
- It also appears in positive requests such as be sure千万want / will / need要to remember记住.
- In this use it is an intensifier, not the literal number ten million.
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…).
千万 in the reminder specifies ten million late arrivals.
It also appears in positive requests such as 千万要记住. In this use it is an intensifier, not the literal number ten million. 千万 strongly stresses the instruction not to be late.
Use the distinction
- be sure千万 strongly stresses the instruction not to be late.
- It also appears in positive requests such as be sure千万want / will / need要to remember记住. In this use it is an intensifier, not the literal number ten million.
Read the full reference: HSK 4 grammar — Adverbs.
A departure time matters and you urge a friend to be punctual. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.