Dictionary🇨🇳 Chinese → 🇺🇸 English
Chinese to English Dictionary
要不
yàobù
Description
“要不”是口语里常用的词，用来提出一个建议或者别的办法。
"要不" is a commonly used spoken word to make a suggestion or propose another way.
它也可以表示“不然”，说如果不这样会有什么结果。
It can also mean "otherwise," indicating what will happen if something is not done.
Meanings
要不yàobù
how about; why don't we (suggesting)
要不我们明天去看电影吧。
Let's go to the movies tomorrow.
要不yàobù
otherwise; or else
快走吧，要不就迟到了。
Hurry up, or we'll be late.
Related words
Notes
- Etymology
要 (want/if) + 不 (not), literally "if not", giving both "otherwise" and "how about".
- Nuance
要不 is more casual and spoken than 否则; the suggestion sense often takes 吧.
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