Dictionary🇨🇳 Chinese → 🇺🇸 English
不然
bùrán
Description
我们用"不然"来说另一个选择或者不好的结果。
We use "不然" to talk about another option or a bad result.
比如"快点走，不然我们会迟到"。
For example, "Hurry up, 不然 we'll be late."
Meanings
不然bùrán
otherwise; or else
快点吃，不然饭会凉。
Eat quickly, or the food will get cold.
不然bùrán
or, or how about (suggesting an alternative)
你不想去，不然我们看电影吧。
If you don't want to go, then let's watch a movie.
不然bùrán
not so; that's not the case
大家以为他很懒，其实不然。
Everyone thinks he's lazy, but actually not.
Related words
Notes
- Etymology
不 (not) + 然 (so/thus), literally "not so."
- Nuance
否则 is more formal; 不然 and 要不然 are common in speech.
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