要不

yàobù

conjunction HSK 5 #5,393

Meanings

HSK 4

快走吧，要不就来不及了。

Kuài zǒu ba, yàobù jiù láibují le.

Let's go quickly, otherwise we won't make it in time.

HSK 5

要不我们去吃火锅吧？

Yàobù wǒmen qù chī huǒguō ba?

How about we go eat hot pot?

usage

要不 has two main uses: (1) 'otherwise/or else' - warning of consequences; (2) 'how about' - making a suggestion. Context makes the meaning clear.

grammar

When making suggestions, 要不 is often followed by a statement ending in 吧: 要不...吧？

要 yào

不 bù