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要不 (yào bù) — how about...? (used to propose a suggestion or alternative); otherwise; or else (introduces a consequence if the preceding action is not taken)

Definition

要不 is a casual spoken conjunction with two uses: 'how about…?' (proposing an alternative, like 怎么样) and 'otherwise / or else' (like 否则 but more colloquial).

conjunction
how about...? (used to propose a suggestion or alternative)otherwiseor else (introduces a consequence if the preceding action is not taken)

Examples

  • ，要不。
    Kuài zǒu ba, yào bù nǐ jiù yào chí dào le.
    Hurry up, otherwise you'll be late.
  • 要不？
    yào bù Wǒ men qù gōng yuán sàn sàn bù?
    How about we go for a walk in the park?
  • ，要不？
    Nǐ bù xǐ huan zhè ge yán sè, yào bù huàn yí gè kàn kàn?
    You don't like this color — how about trying another one?

Origin

Characters in this word

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

要 began as a drawing of a person with both hands pointing to the waist.

Open 要 →

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

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5HSK 2.0 Level 5

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