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再不 (zài bú) — or else, otherwise (used in warnings or conditional statements)

Definition

再不 is a conjunction meaning 'or else / otherwise', used to warn of a bad consequence if the listener doesn't act. It connects directly to the result clause, usually followed by 就 ('then').

conjunction
or elseotherwise (used in warnings or conditional statements)

Examples

  • 再不，。
    zài bú Chū fā, jiù gǎn bú shàng huǒ chē le.
    If we don't leave now, we'll miss the train.
  • ，再不。
    Kuài zǒu, zài bú jiù yào chí dào le.
    Hurry up, otherwise we'll be late.
  • ，再不。
    Nǐ zuì hǎo xiàn zài jiù qù, zài bú jiù méi jī huì le.
    You'd better go now, otherwise you'll miss the chance.

Origin

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

Open 再 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The picture in 不 originally showed a flower’s calyx; the “no” sense came later from a related character, not from this picture.

Open 不 →

Grammar

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