Correct
否则 vs 不然
/ fǒuzé vs bùrán /
Strokes
Formula
1
否则的话
2
不然的话
3
要不的话
4
要不然的话
Definition
否则 and 不然 both are Conjunction, which means [otherwise].
Example
否则 or 不然 is used at the beginning of the second clause to indicate a hypothetical negation to the preceding clause, followed by the possible result 的话 can be added.
11) In example ③ a rhetorical question is used instead to indicate the possible result.
2) 否则 and 不然 are more literary; 要不 and 要不然 is more colloquial and so more often takes 的话 after it.
2) 否则 and 不然 are more literary; 要不 and 要不然 is more colloquial and so more often takes 的话 after it.
否则的话
不然的话
要不的话
要不然的话
1
Xìngkuī
幸亏
dá
打
le
了
yùfángzhēn
预防针
,
fǒuzé
否则
(
bùrán
不然
)
(
yào
要
bù
不
)
(
yàobùrán
要不然
)
yīdìng
一定
huì
会
débìng
得病
。
But for the vaccine, I would have been ill.
2
Nǐ
你
bìxū
必须
yònggōng
用功
,
fǒuzé
否则
(
bùrán
不然
)
(
yào
要
bù
不
)
(
yàobùrán
要不然
)
de
的
huà
话
,
chéngjì
成绩
kěndìng
肯定
shàng
上
bù
不
qù
去
。
You must work hard, or you will not catch up with the others.
3
Lǎoshī
老师
yīnggāi
应该
rènzhēn
认真
bèikè
备课
,
fǒuzé
否则
(
bùrán
不然
)
(
yào
要
bù
不
)
(
yàobùrán
要不然
)
zěnme
怎么
néng
能
jiào
教
hǎo
好
kè
课
ne
呢
?
A teacher must prepare his lessons well, or how can we expect him to teach well?
否则 and 不然 at the beginning of the second clause can also mean "either......or......".
In the three examples, any of the three other words can be used, and 的话 can also be added.
4
Tāmen
他们
jīngcháng
经常
zài
在
wǎnshang
晚上
xiántán
闲谈
,
fǒuzé
否则
(
bùrán
不然
)
(
yào
要
bù
不
)
(
yàobùrán
要不然
)
jiù
就
yī
一
kuàir
块儿
tīng
听
yīnyuè
音乐
。
They usually either chat or listen to music together at night.
5
Dàjiā
大家
dōu
都
tǎoyàn
讨厌
tā
他
,
jiànmiàn
见面
lěnglěng
冷冷
de
地
yī
一
diǎntóu
点头
,
fǒuzé
否则
(
bùrán
不然
)
(
yào
要
bù
不
)
(
yàobùrán
要不然
)
jiù
就
zhuāng
装
méi
没
kànjiàn
看见
zǒukāi
走开
。
All of us dislike him.When we met him, we either nodded him coldly or pretended not to see him.
6
Wǒmen
我们
kāi
开
gè
个
liánhuānhuì
联欢会
bā
吧
,
fǒuzé
否则
(
bùrán
不然
)
(
yào
要
bù
不
)
(
yàobùrán
要不然
)
jiù
就
chūqù
出去
wánwán
玩玩
。
Let's either have a get-together or go out for fun.