不然 (bù rán) — (conjunction) otherwise, or else; (colloquial, sentence-final) how about it? what else?
Definition
不然 is a conjunction meaning 'otherwise / if not' (e.g. 快走，不然迟到了) and, sentence-finally, a casual 'how about it?'. It is more colloquial than 否则; 要不是 is the 'if it weren't for' form.
conjunction
otherwiseor else(colloquial, sentence-final) how about it? what else?
Examples
- ，不然。Nǐ zuì hǎo dài sǎn, bù rán huì lín shī.You'd better bring an umbrella, otherwise you'll get wet.
- ，不然？Zán men qù kàn diàn yǐng, bù rán ne?Let's go watch a movie — how about it?
- 不然，。bù rán De huà, wǒ jiù zì jǐ qù le.Otherwise, I'll go by myself.
Grammar
Appears in
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