Chinese word

否则

Pronunciation

Pinyinfǒu zé

Meaning

  • conjunctionotherwise

Example

他应该先道歉，否则关系会变差。tā yīng gāi xiān dào qiàn fǒu zé guān xì huì biàn chà

He should apologize first; otherwise, the relationship will get worse.

Illustration for 否则 (otherwise)

More examples

把护照带好，否则就不能出境。bǎ hù zhào dài hǎo fǒu zé jiù bù néng chū jìng

Bring your passport, or you will not be able to leave the country.

Core concept

A track switch that sends events toward another outcome when the first path is not taken.

Common phrases

  • 否则就不能fǒu zé jiù bù néng

    otherwise cannot

  • 否则的话fǒu zé de huà

    if not

Similar words

不然bù rán: In a short, conversational way, warns that not doing something will bring another result.
要不yào bù: Casually proposes another action as an alternative if the first plan is not followed.
要不然yào bù rán: Casually warns that a different result will occur when the preceding condition is not fulfilled.

Definition in Chinese

用以在条件不成立时提示另一种可能性或后果，常用于连接前后两部分以表达对立或替代的关系。yòng yǐ zài tiáo jiàn bù chéng lì shí tí shì lìng yì zhǒng kě néng xìng huò hòu guǒ cháng yòng yú lián jiē qián hòu liǎng bù fèn yǐ biǎo dá duì lì huò tì dài de guān xì

Word origin

否 (fǒu, "not") marks a rejected condition, while 则 (zé, "then") marks the next step, forming a compact link to an alternative outcome.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, the condition before 否则 (fǒuzé, "otherwise") can remain unspoken when the context supplies it, leaving the consequence as the main point.

Other meanings

  • if notconjunction

Word lists with this word