Meaning and Usage
The word "千万" primarily means "ten million" when used as a number. However, it is very commonly used as an adverbial phrase to strongly emphasize a negative command or warning, similar to "absolutely must not" or "by all means do not" in English.
Common Collocations
- 千万别 + verb: a strong warning not to do something (e.g., 千万别忘 - absolutely don't forget)
- 千万不要 + verb: another form to emphasize prohibition or caution
Usage Notes
When used to mean "ten million," it appears in contexts discussing large quantities or populations. When used as an adverbial phrase, it always precedes a negative verb to stress the importance of not doing something. This usage is very common in spoken and written Chinese.
Avoiding Confusion
Do not confuse the numerical meaning with the emphatic negative usage. Context usually makes it clear. For example, "人口超过千万" clearly refers to a number, while "千万别忘" is a warning.
Summary
"千万" is a versatile word that learners should recognize both as a large number and as a strong negative emphasis in commands or advice.