Chinese–EnglishWith examples

不然

bù rán · bu ran

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 4Old HSK 5

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. not so
  2. no
  3. or else
  4. otherwise
  5. if not
  6. How about ...?
Embed this word

Put this word on your class page or blog. Keep the link under the frame, so people can find the word. More widgets

In a conversation

0:23 cartoon

One more episode

  1. Liangliang

    今天(jīntiān)早点(zǎodiǎn)睡(shuì)，不然(bùrán)明天(míngtiān)起不来(qǐbùlái)。

    Go to bed early today, or you will not be able to get up tomorrow.

  2. Dengdeng

    我(wǒ)知道(zhīdào)，可是(kěshì)这个(zhège)电视剧(diànshìjù)太(tài)好看(hǎokàn)了(le)。

    I know, but this TV show is too good.

  3. Liangliang

    那(nà)就(jiù)只(zhǐ)看(kàn)一集(yījí)，不然(bùrán)你(nǐ)又(yòu)要(yào)看到(kàndào)天亮(tiānliàng)。

    Then watch just one episode, or you will watch until dawn again.

  4. Dengdeng

    好(hǎo)！我(wǒ)只(zhǐ)看(kàn)一集(yījí)！

    OK! Just one episode!

  5. Liangliang

    你(nǐ)已经(yǐjīng)看(kàn)了(le)三集(sānjí)了(le)。

    You have already watched three episodes.

  6. Dengdeng

    可是(kěshì)每一集(měiyījí)最后(zuìhòu)都(dōu)说(shuō)“下一集(xiàyījí)更(gèng)好看(hǎokàn)”！

    But every episode ends by saying "the next one is even better"!

Tap a word for its meaning in this line. The characters’ voices are computer-generated.

In a sentence

2 examples
01

慢(màn)慢(màn)来(lái)，不(bù)然(rán)你(nǐ)可(kě)能(néng)会(huì)出(chū)错(cuò)的(de)。

Take your time, or you may make some mistakes.

Tatoeba: Chinese by fucongcong · English by Dejo · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

02

幸(xìng)好(hǎo)你(nǐ)提(tí)醒(xǐng)我(wǒ)，不(bù)然(rán)我(wǒ)永(yǒng)远(yuǎn)记(jì)不(bu)起(qǐ)来(lái)了(le)。

Good that you told me, otherwise I would never have remembered it.

Tatoeba: Chinese by verdastelo9604 · English by Dejo · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

Sources & licenses

How to write

Stroke order & practice

Choose a character to watch its strokes or trace it yourself.

Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

The characters

Explore individually
不
bù

no; not so; (bound form) not; un-

然
rán

correct; right

Individual character meanings do not always explain the meaning of a whole word.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

More words starting with BExplore words in context