否则 · 不然
do A, otherwise B (the bad result) happens
Structure
A ， 否则／不然 B
What it means
“Otherwise, or else”: first say what has to happen, then what goes wrong if it doesn’t.
How it is built
Needed action，否则／不然 + bad result: 咱们得六点出门，否则会堵车 (We need to leave at six, otherwise we’ll get stuck in traffic).
When to use it
Good for warnings and advice. 否则 and 不然 mean the same; 不然 is more spoken: 快订吧，不然就没有票了 (Book now, or there won’t be any tickets left).
Watch out
Don’t put 如果 in front of the first part, because 否则 already carries the “if not”: ✗ 如果六点出门，否则会堵车 ✓ 得六点出门，否则会堵车.
Examples
咱们得六点出门，否则会堵车。
We need to leave at six, otherwise we’ll get stuck in traffic.
坐长途火车最好带些吃的，否则途中会饿。
On a long train journey bring something to eat, otherwise you’ll get hungry on the way.
快订吧，不然就没有票了。
Book it now, or there won’t be any tickets left.
Learn this in HSK 4 · Lesson 1: 国庆去哪儿 (Booking a trip)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. This lesson is free.
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