nǐ bié xiànzài dǎ diànhuà, tā zhèngzài xiūxi ne.

Don't call now; she is resting.

Breakdown of nǐ bié xiànzài dǎ diànhuà, tā zhèngzài xiūxi ne.

• 你nǐ: you
• 她tā: she
• 现在xiànzài: now
• 呢ne: progressive particle
• 正在zhèngzài: progressive marker
• 打电话dǎdiànhuà: to make a phone call
• 别bié: don't
• 休息xiūxi: to rest

Questions & Answers about nǐ bié xiànzài dǎ diànhuà, tā zhèngzài xiūxi ne.

What does the bold word 别 do here, and how is it different from 不 or 不要?

• 别 + verb is the normal way to tell someone not to do something right now: 别打电话.
• 不 + verb states a fact/habit, not a command: 你不打电话 = you don’t call (as a fact/plan).
• 不要 + verb can also mean “don’t,” usually a bit softer or more formal: 不要现在打电话.
• To tell someone to stop, use 别…了: 别打电话了.

Is 你别现在打电话 the most natural word order? Where else can 现在 go?

• Commonly, time words come before the verb phrase: 你现在别打电话 or 现在别打电话.
• 你别现在打电话 is also fine; it highlights “not now (later is okay).”
• You can also split the clauses for clarity: 别打电话，她现在正在休息呢.

Why does the second clause end with 呢? Can I omit it?

• Sentence-final 呢 marks an ongoing action/state and gives an explanatory, softer tone.
• 她正在休息呢 ≈ “She’s in the middle of resting.”
• Dropping 呢 (她正在休息) is still correct but sounds a bit flatter/less “in-progress.”

Do I need both 正在 and 呢? Is that redundant?

• Not redundant: 在/正在 marks progressive aspect; 呢 marks continuation and adds tone.
• All of these are natural, with small emphasis differences:
  • 她在休息呢
  • 她正在休息
  • 她正休息呢
  • 她休息呢

Can I replace 正在 with 在 or 正?

• Yes:
  • 在 = general progressive, very colloquial: 她在休息呢.
  • 正在 = emphasizes “right this moment”: 她正在休息.
  • 正 = concise variant: 她正休息呢. All are fine in everyday speech.

If I mean “Don’t call her now,” how do I say it?

• Add the recipient with 给: 你现在别给她打电话.
• Also common (esp. in Taiwan Mandarin): 你现在别打电话给她.
• 打她的电话 means “dial her number.” 打她电话 is nonstandard.

Does 打电话 need a measure word? How do I count calls?

• As an activity, no measure word: 别打电话 = don’t make phone calls.
• To count calls, use 个 or 通:
  • 打了一个电话 (made one call; neutral)
  • 打了两通电话 (two calls; emphasizes call events)

How do I pronounce 休息 correctly?

• 休息 is pronounced xiūxi; the second syllable is often neutralized in everyday speech.
• You will also see/hear xiūxī in dictionaries; both are understood. Aim for a light second syllable.

Why is there a comma between the clauses?

• Chinese often links a directive with its reason using a comma: command + reason.
• You could spell it out: 因为她正在休息，所以你现在别打电话; the original is more concise/natural.

Is 呢 a question particle here?

• Not here. This 呢 marks an ongoing situation.
• The question use is like 你呢？ (“and you?”), which is a different function.

How can I make the prohibition sound more polite/softer?

• Use 您: 您现在别打电话.
• Add softeners like 先, 吧, 啊: 现在先别打电话吧/啊.
• 请别… is possible but can sound formal or even stern depending on tone.

Can I drop 你 in the first clause?

• Yes. Imperatives commonly omit the subject: 别现在打电话 is natural.

Can I say 她休息着 to mean “she is resting”?

• Generally no. 着 marks a static continuous state (e.g., 开着, 站着). For activities like resting, use 在/正在…(呢): 她在休息呢.

How do I say “She is not resting now”?

• For the progressive, use 没在/没有在: 她现在没在休息.
• 她现在不休息 suggests a choice/habit (“she doesn’t rest now”), not the ongoing progressive.

Where can I put 现在 in the second clause?

• Both are fine: 她现在正在休息呢 or 现在她正在休息呢.
• Putting 现在 in the first clause (你现在别打电话) or the second adjusts focus; both are idiomatic.

Where does 了 go with 打电话?

• With the verb–object 打电话, you can put 了 on the verb or at the end:
  • 我打电话了 (I called; action completed)
  • 我打了一个电话 (I made one call; counting the event) When you count the call, put 了 on the verb before the measure phrase.