不要 and 不用

user271828
 August 29, 2010, 10:33 PM posted in I Have a Question

I know that 不用 is the polite way to decline an invitation for help (or food etc.) but I accidentally just said 不要 on the phone instead.  Am I right in thinking this sounds much harsher, as in "I don't want it!"?

 

 

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danchao
 August 30, 2010, 01:55 AM

Yeah, it's harsher, but don't worry, nobody will take it offensively or anything.