不然

不然 (bù rán) is an adverb that means 'otherwise' or 'else.' It is used to express a contrasting situation or alternative outcome, often in the context of a conditional statement. Unlike similar words like “否则” (huòzé), 不然 tends to be more direct and conversational.

The character 不 (bù) means 'not,' and 然 (rán) means 'so' or 'then.' Together, 不然 literally translates to 'not so,' implying a contrast with a previous statement or expectation. This combination creates a natural expression for introducing alternatives or consequences.

在日常对话中，不然常用于表达假设或警告，例如“你再不走，不然我就走了。”（You don't leave, otherwise I'll leave.）它也常见于书面语和口语中，用于强调某种选择的重要性或后果。