不然

bùrán

HSK 5

不然 — bùrán

1. otherwise; or else; if not (introducing a consequence or alternative)

   你以为他不会来吗？不然，他马上就到。 nǐ yǐwéi tā búhuì lái ma bùrán tā mǎshàng jiù dào — You think he won't come? Not so — he'll be here any minute.

2. not so; that's not the case (used to contradict or deny)

   今天不去看电影了，不然我们去吃饭吧。 jīntiān bù qù kàn diànyǐng le bùrán wǒmen qù chīfàn ba — Let's skip the movie today; how about we go eat instead?

3. How about ...? (used to suggest an alternative plan)

   我们先去喝咖啡，不然去哪儿？ wǒmen xiānqù hēkāfēi bùrán qù nǎér — Let's go have coffee first — how about where to go afterwards?