Meaning of 不然
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- not so
- no
- or else
- otherwise
- if not
- How about ...?
How to use 不然
不然 links two clauses: the first gives advice or a condition, and 不然 introduces the bad result if it is ignored. It often appears with 的话 or 就. Example: 快走吧，不然要迟到了。(Kuài zǒu ba, bùrán yào chídào le.) Let's hurry, or else we'll be late.
不 (bù) means not, and 然 (rán) means so or like this. If things are not like this, then something else happens, so 不然 means otherwise.
Common mistake: Learners often put 不然 at the start of a single sentence like English "otherwise" with no first clause. It needs a preceding statement to refer back to. Also keep 不 in fourth tone here, since 然 is second tone and no tone change applies.
不然 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
不 bù · no · 4 strokes
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然 rán · certainly · 12 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 不然.
| 对不起 | duìbuqǐ | I'm sorry; excuse me; I beg your pardon; to let (sb) down; to disappoint |
| 是不是 | shì bu shì | is or is not (used to form yes-no questions) |
| 不用 | bùyòng | need not |
| 不大 | bù dà | not very (clear, far away etc); not too; not often; infrequently |
| 不对 | bùduì | incorrect; wrong |
| 不客气 | bù kèqì | you're welcome; don't mention it |
| 不要 | bùyào | don't!; must not |
| 然后 | ránhòu | then; after that; afterwards |
| 不过 | bùguò | only; merely |
| 不错 | bùcuò | correct; right |
| 不行 | bùxíng | won't do; be out of the question |
| 虽然 | suīrán | although; even though (often used correlatively with 可是[ke3 shi4] or 但是[dan4 shi4] etc) |
Questions about 不然
What does 不然 mean?
不然 (bùrán) means "not so; no" and is used as a conjunction.
How do you write 不然?
不然 is made of 2 characters: 不 (4 strokes), 然 (12 strokes). That is 16 strokes in total.
Is 不然 an HSK word?
Yes. 不然 is on the HSK 4 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 不然 and 否则?
Both mean otherwise. 否则 (fǒuzé) sounds more formal and is common in writing, while 不然 is more common in everyday speech.
Can 不然 be used to make a suggestion?
Yes. In casual speech 不然 can start a suggestion, like "how about". For example, 不然我们明天再去吧。(Bùrán wǒmen míngtiān zài qù ba.) How about we go tomorrow instead.