Negative commands (อย่า)

Negative Commands with อย่า

When you need to tell someone not to do something, place the word อย่า directly before the verb. This functions just like "do not" or "don't" in English, and it is commonly used for rules, instructions, and prohibitions.

อย่า + Action + (Object) + (Polite Particle)

Giving Safety Warnings

When giving a safety warning, you will often state the reason alongside the command. For example, you might mention that something is อันตราย (dangerous) to explain why they should not touch it.

Instead of telling someone what not to do, you can also give an affirmative warning using ระวัง (to be careful / beware of). Place it directly before the hazard they need to watch out for.

Comforting and Calming

Negative commands are not always strict rules. You can also use อย่า to gently comfort someone, tell them to stop being upset, or de-escalate a situation.