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否则 (fǒu zé) — otherwise; if not; or else

Definition

否则 is the standard written connector 'otherwise / or else' used to warn of a bad consequence. It is more formal than the spoken 不然; 或者/或是 introduce alternative options, not consequences.

conjunction
otherwiseif notor else

Examples

  • ，否则。
    Nǐ bì xū àn shí wán chéng gōng zuò, fǒu zé jiù huì bèi jiě gù.
    You must finish the work on time, otherwise you will be fired.
  • ，否则。
    Kuài bǎ yào chī le, fǒu zé bìng hǎo bù liǎo.
    Take the medicine quickly, otherwise you won't get better.
  • ，否则。
    Nǐ xiàn zài chū fā, fǒu zé jiù huì chí dào.
    Leave now, otherwise you'll be late.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

否fǒunot
则zéthen

否 means not and 则 means then, so together they point to if not, then otherwise.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
不
不bù否pǐ
Same sound today

否 is built from 口 (mouth) and 不 (not), with 不 giving the sound and 口 relating to speech.

Open 否 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 則; 则 is its simplified writing.

  • 鼎鼎dǐngding, a bronze cauldron for cooking or sacrificial rituals
  • 刂刀dāoknife

The traditional form 則 pairs 鼎, a bronze cauldron, with 刂, a knife, possibly showing carving on a bronze vessel; the simplified 则 is a later shorthand.

Open 则 →

Grammar

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 4HSK 2.0 Level 41000 Most Frequent Chinese WordsCause, Effect & Logic2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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