要不

yàobù

conjunction HSK 7-9 #5,393

Meanings

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.

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