Skip to content
HSK 2.0 Level 4+ HSK 3.0 Level 4+ 6 min read

...，否则... and 要不然 for “Otherwise”

Use 否则, 要不然 and 不然 to say what will happen if something doesn’t.

Pattern

advice or condition，否则 / 要不然 / 不然 + what happens if not

否则, 要不然 and 不然 all mean “otherwise”: they start the second clause and say what happens if the first clause doesn’t come true. 否则 sounds a bit more formal; 要不然 and 不然 are everyday spoken words.

快点儿走吧，否则要迟到了。

When to use ...，否则... and 要不然 for “Otherwise”

The first clause gives advice, a plan or a fact. The second clause starts with 否则, 要不然 or 不然 and tells you what will happen if the first clause does not happen. Think of it as “do A, or else B.”

你最好提前买票，否则可能买不到。

You’d better buy tickets in advance, otherwise you might not get any.

我们得早点儿出发，否则会赶不上火车。

We need to leave early, otherwise we’ll miss the train.

要是明天不下雨，我们就去爬山，否则就在家看电影。

If it doesn’t rain tomorrow, we’ll go hiking; otherwise we’ll stay home and watch a movie.

要是你今天有空，就来我家吃饭，否则我们周末再见。

If you’re free today, come to my place for dinner; if not, we’ll see each other at the weekend.

Common traps

  • 否则 and 不然 already mean “if not,” so the second clause says the result of NOT doing the first thing: 快点儿走，否则会迟到, not 快点儿走，否则不迟到.
  • Put 否则 / 要不然 / 不然 at the start of the second clause, before the subject: 否则我们会迟到, not 我们否则会迟到.
  • Don’t use 否则 to suggest an alternative; for “how about…?” use 要不然 or 要不.

Targeted drill

Practice this exact pattern before moving on.

快点儿走吧， 要迟到了

Let’s hurry, otherwise we’ll be late
Fill in the missing piece, then press Enter

How we make our content