ConjunctionsHSK 4
Expressing "how about" with 要不
Use 要不 to indirectly suggest an idea while gently seeking the listener's agreement. Place it before your suggestion, either after stating the reason or at the very start of the conversation, and remember it's for proposals, not bare alternatives.
Structure
Reason / Situation ，要不 + Suggestion
要不 + Suggestion ，Reason / Situation
Examples
- 要不我们一起去吧，一个人去没意思。Yàobù wǒmen yīqǐ qù ba , yīgèrén qù méi yìsi.How about we go together? It's no fun to go by myself.
- 这个星期我比较忙，要不下个星期见？Zhège xīngqī wǒ bǐjiào máng, yàobù xià gè xīngqī jiàn?I'm pretty busy this week. How about we meet up next week?
- 要不我们换个地方吧，这里太吵了。Yàobù wǒmen huàn gè dìfang ba , zhèlǐ tài chǎo le.How about we go to somewhere else? It's too loud here.
- 要不你先走吧，我还没做完。Yàobù nǐ xiān zǒu ba , wǒ hái méi zuò wán.How about you leave first? I haven't finished yet.
- 下雨了，要不明天去吧。Xiàyǔ le, yàobù míngtiān qù ba .It's raining. How about we go tomorrow?