不然

Meaning(conjunction, verb, adjective)

not so; no; or else; otherwise; if not; How about ...?

Examples

• 快走吧，不然要迟到了。

  kuài zǒu ba, bù rán yào chí dào le.

  Hurry up, or we'll be late.

• 多穿点衣服，不然会感冒的。

  duō chuān diǎn yī fu, bù rán huì gǎn mào de.

  Put on more clothes, otherwise you'll catch a cold.

• 不然我们明天再去吧。

  bù rán wǒ men míng tiān zài qù ba.

  How about we go tomorrow instead?

Easily confused

• 否则 — Like 否则 'otherwise'; 不然 is more colloquial and can start a suggestion ('how about…').

Written with AI, waiting for a teacher's review.