要不 yàobù otherwise
otherwise; or else; how about...?; either... (or...)
How to remember 要不: 要 want + 不 not = otherwise.
Characters
How it is used
- Colloquial 'or else / otherwise' and 'how about…?' - 快走，要不来不及了 (kuài zǒu, yàobù láibují le) hurry, or else we'll be late; 要不我们去看电影？ (yàobù wǒmen qù kàn diànyǐng?) how about we go to a movie?
- The suggestion sense (要不…吧) softly floats a proposal in speech.
- Spoken register; 要不然 is the fuller form.
Example sentences
- 要不一起到车站去？ Yào bù yìqǐ dào chēzhàn qù?Do you want to go to the station with me?
- 咱们现在走吧。要不咱们要迟到了。 Zánmen xiànzài zǒu ba.yào bù zánmen yào chídào le.Let's go now. Otherwise, we'll be late.