Chinese–EnglishWith examples

要不然

yào bù rán · yao bu ran

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 6

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. otherwise
  2. or else
  3. or
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

0:19 cartoon

What shall we do?

  1. Liangliang

    周末(zhōumò)去(qù)哪儿(nǎr)？爬山(páshān)吧(ba)。

    Where shall we go this weekend? Hiking.

  2. Dengdeng

    太(tài)累(lèi)了(le)，要不然(yàobùrán)我们(wǒmen)去(qù)看(kàn)电影(diànyǐng)？

    Too tiring. How about we go to a movie?

  3. Liangliang

    电影院(diànyǐngyuàn)人(rén)太(tài)多(duō)，要不然(yàobùrán)在家(zàijiā)看(kàn)？

    The cinema is too crowded. How about watching at home?

  4. Dengdeng

    快(kuài)决定(juédìng)，要不然(yàobùrán)周末(zhōumò)就(jiù)过完(guòwán)了(le)！

    Decide quickly, or the weekend will be over!

  5. Liangliang

    那(nà)……要不然(yàobùrán)我们(wǒmen)睡觉(shuìjiào)吧(ba)？

    Then... how about we just sleep?

  6. Dengdeng

    好(hǎo)主意(zhǔyi)！

    Good idea!

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

In a sentence

2 examples
01

今(jīn)天(tiān)天(tiān)气(qì)很(hěn)冷(lěng)，您(nín)多(duō)穿(chuān)衣(yī)服(fu)吧(ba)，要(yào)不(bù)然(rán)会(huì)感(gǎn)冒(mào)的(de)。

It's really cold today. You should dress warmer or you might catch a cold.

Tatoeba: Chinese by FeuDRenais · English by FeuDRenais2 · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

02

我(wǒ)该(gāi)走(zǒu)了(le)，要(yào)不(bù)然(rán)我(wǒ)会(huì)迟(chí)到(dào)的(de)。

I have to go, otherwise I'll arrive late.

Tatoeba: Chinese by DaoSeng · English by LinguisticFusion · CC BY 2.0 FR. Simplified Chinese conversion; 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.

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.

Browse all wordsExplore words in context