Difference between revisions of "Expressing "how about" with "yaobu""

Latest revision as of 09:40, 12 April 2019

Level

B1 / HSK5
Level

B1
Level

HSK5
Similar to
Similar to
- Expressing "either... or..." with "yaome" (HSK0)
- Expressing good luck with "haihao" (HSK0)
- Suggestions with "ba" (HSK1)
- Expressing "or" in statements (HSK3)
- Expressing "had better" with "haishi" (HSK4)
- Expressing "unless" with "chufei" (HSK4)
- Providing two options with double "huozhe" (HSK5)
Used for

Indicating cause and effect, Giving alternatives
Keywords

吧, 要不

Colloquially, 要不 (yàobù) can be used for making suggestions, like how we use "how about" in English.

Structure

要不 can be used as an indirect way of giving a suggestion, as the speaker is using 要不 to seek consent of the listener. When using 要不 in this way, it can come either at the beginning of the sentence or in the middle, after explaining the situation.

Reason / Situation ，要不 + Suggestion

or

要不 + Suggestion ，Reason / Situation

Examples

大家都有点累了，要不休息一会儿吧。Dàjiā dōu yǒudiǎn lèi le, yàobù xiūxi yīhuìr ba.Everyone is a little tired. Let's rest for a while.
要不我们一起去吧，一个人去没意思。Yàobù wǒmen yīqǐ qù ba, yīgèrén qù méi yìsi.How about we go together? It's no fun to go by myself.
这个星期我比较忙，要不下个星期见？Zhège xīngqī wǒ bǐjiào máng, yàobù xià gè xīngqī jiàn?I'm pretty busy this week. How about we meet up next week?
要不我们换个地方吧，这里太吵了。Yàobù wǒmen huàn gè dìfang ba, zhèlǐ tài chǎo le.How about we go to somewhere else? It's too loud here.
要不你先走吧，我还没做完。Yàobù nǐ xiān zǒu ba, wǒ hái méi zuò wán.How about you leave first? I haven't finished yet.
下雨了，要不明天去吧。Xiàyǔ le, yàobù míngtiān qù ba.It's raining. How about we go tomorrow?
这么远，要不我开车送你去？Zhème yuǎn, yàobù wǒ kāichē sòng nǐ qù?It's so far. How about I drive you there?

Multiple Meanings

When 要不 (yàobù) is used to mean "otherwise,” it's a shortened form of 要不然 (yàobùrán), which literally means "if that's not the case."

Note 要不 (yàobù) can also be used to offer "either/or" choices to others, similar to 要么 (yàome).

Here are a few examples of 要不 used as "otherwise":

你先吃吧，要不然 饭就凉了。Nǐ xiān chī ba, yàobùrán fàn jiù liáng le.You should eat; otherwise, the food will get cold.
打车吧，要不会迟到的。Dǎchē ba, yàobù huì chídào de.Take a taxi. Otherwise, you'll be late.
快回家吧，要不你爸妈会担心的。Kuài huíjiā ba, yàobù nǐ bà mā huì dānxīn de.Hurry home, or your parents will worry about you.

Sources and further reading

Books

Home With Kids1 (家有儿女1) (pp. 50) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
BRIDGE (桥梁实用汉语中级教程下) (pp. 187) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (pp. 123-4) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
卓越汉语－公司实战篇 (pp. 166-7) 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 →buy
HSK Standard Course 5上 (pp. 66) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Grammar Box}}
-要不 (yàobù) can have a number of meanings, ranging from "[[either]]/[[or]]" to "[[how about]]." It's quite colloquial to be used for suggestions.
+Colloquially, 要不 (yàobù) can be used for making suggestions, like how we use "[[how about]]" in English.
 == Structure ==
-要不 can be used as an indirect way of giving a suggestion, as the speaker is using 要不 to seek consent of the listener. (Once again, 要么 can be used similarly.) When using 要不 in this way, it can come either at the beginning of the sentence, or in the middle, after explaining the situation.
+要不 can be used as an indirect way of giving a suggestion, as the speaker is using 要不 to seek consent of the listener. When using 要不 in this way, it can come either at the beginning of the sentence or in the middle, after explaining the situation.
 <div class="jiegou">
-Reason / Situation，要不 + Option B + 吧
+Reason / Situation ，要不 + Suggestion
 </div>
@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 <div class="jiegou">
-要不 + Option B + 吧 ，Reason / Situation
+要不 + Suggestion ，Reason / Situation
 </div>
@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 <div class="liju">
-*一个人 去 没 意思，<em>要不</em> 我们 一起 去 吧 。<span class="pinyin">Yīgèrén qù méi yìsi, <em>yàobù</em> wǒmen yīqǐ qù ba.</span><span class="trans">It's no fun to go by myself. How about we go together?</span>
+*大家 都 有点 累 了，<em>要不</em> 休息 一会儿 <strong>吧</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Dàjiā dōu yǒudiǎn lèi le, <em>yàobù</em> xiūxi yīhuìr <strong>ba</strong>.</span><span class="trans">Everyone is a little tired. Let's rest for a while.</span>
-*挺 好吃 的 ，<em>要不</em> 你 尝尝 ？<span class="pinyin">Tǐng hǎochī de, <em>yàobù</em> nǐ? ??</span><span class="trans">It's pretty tasty. How about you also buy some?</span>
+*<em>要不</em> 我们 一起 去 <strong>吧</strong> ，一个人 去 没 意思 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yàobù</em> wǒmen yīqǐ qù <strong>ba</strong>, yīgèrén qù méi yìsi.</span><span class="trans">How about we go together? It's no fun to go by myself.</span>
-*这里 太 吵 了 ，<em>要不</em> 我们 换 个 地方 吧 。<span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ tài chǎo le, <em>yàobù</em> wǒmen huàn gè dìfang bā.</span><span class="trans">It's too loud here. How about we go to somewhere else?</span>
+*这个 星期 我 比较 忙 ，<em>要不</em> 下 个 星期 见 ？<span class="pinyin">Zhège xīngqī wǒ bǐjiào máng, <em>yàobù</em> xià gè xīngqī jiàn?</span><span class="trans">I'm pretty busy this week. How about we meet up next week?</span>
-*<em>要不</em> 你 先 走 吧 ，我 还没 做完 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yàobù</em> nǐ xiān zǒu bā, wǒ hái méi zuò wán.</span><span class="trans">How about you go first? I haven't finished yet.</span>
+*<em>要不</em> 我们 换 个 地方 <strong>吧</strong> ，这里 太 吵 了 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yàobù</em> wǒmen huàn gè dìfang <strong>ba</strong>, zhèlǐ tài chǎo le.</span><span class="trans">How about we go to somewhere else? It's too loud here.</span>
-*<em>要不</em> 出去 吃 吧 ，我 没 做饭 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yàobù</em> chūqù chī bā, wǒ méi zuòfàn.</span><span class="trans">How about we go eat out? I didn't cook.</span>
+*<em>要不</em> 你 先 走 <strong>吧</strong> ，我 还没 做完 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yàobù</em> nǐ xiān zǒu <strong>ba</strong>, wǒ hái méi zuò wán.</span><span class="trans">How about you leave first? I haven't finished yet.</span>
-*下雨 了，<em>要不</em> 明天 去 吧 。<span class="pinyin">Xiàyǔ le, <em>yàobù</em> míngtiān qù ba.</span><span class="trans">It's raining. How about we go tomorrow?</span>
+*下雨 了，<em>要不</em> 明天 去 <strong>吧</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Xiàyǔ le, <em>yàobù</em> míngtiān qù <strong>ba</strong>.</span><span class="trans">It's raining. How about we go tomorrow?</span>
-*走路 去 挺 远 的，<em>要不</em> 我 开车 送 你 去 吧 。<span class="pinyin">Zǒulù qù tǐng yuǎn de, <em>yàobù</em> wǒ kāichē sòng nǐ qù ba.</span><span class="trans">It's quite far away to walk there. How about I drive you there?</span>
+*这么 远 ，<em>要不</em> 我 开车 送 你 去 ？<span class="pinyin">Zhème yuǎn, <em>yàobù</em> wǒ kāichē sòng nǐ qù?</span><span class="trans">It's so far. How about I drive you there?</span>
-*我 家 不太 好 找，<em>要不</em> 我 去 地铁站 接 你 吧 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ jiā bù tài hǎo zhǎo, <em>yàobù</em> wǒ qù dìtiězhàn jiē nǐ ba.</span><span class="trans">It's not easy to find my place. How about I pick you up at the metro station?</span>
+</div>
+== Multiple Meanings ==
+When 要不 (yàobù) is used to mean "[[otherwise]],” it's a shortened form of 要不然 (yàobùrán), which literally means "if that's not the case."
+Note 要不 (yàobù) can also be used to offer "either/or" choices to others, similar to [[Expressing "either... or..." with "yaome"|要么]] (yàome).
+Here are a few examples of  要不 used as "otherwise":
+<div class="liju">
+*你 先 吃 吧 ，<em>要 不然</em> 饭 就 凉 了 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ xiān chī ba, <em>yàobùrán</em> fàn jiù liáng le.</span><span class="trans">You should eat; otherwise, the food will get cold.</span>
+*打车 吧 ，<em>要不</em> 会 迟到 的 。<span class="pinyin">Dǎchē ba, <em>yàobù</em> huì chídào de.</span><span class="trans">Take a taxi. Otherwise, you'll be late.</span>
+*快 回家 吧 ，<em>要不</em> 你 爸妈 会 担心 的 。<span class="pinyin">Kuài huíjiā ba, <em>yàobù</em> nǐ bà mā huì dānxīn de.</span><span class="trans">Hurry home, or your parents will worry about you.</span>
 </div>
@@ Line 42: / Line 57: @@
 === Books ===
-*[[Home With Kids1 (家有儿女1)]](pp. 50) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E5%AE%B6%E6%9C%89%E5%84%BF%E5%A5%B31-%E5%88%98%E7%AB%8B%E6%96%B0/dp/B0020MLDO8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347862139&sr=8-1 →buy]
+{{Source|Home With Kids1 (家有儿女1)|50}}
-*[[BRIDGE (桥梁 实用汉语中级教程下)]](pp. 187) [http://www.amazon.cn/gp/product/B003AKZFF2/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B003AKZFF2&linkCode=as2&tag=allset-23 →buy]
+{{Source|BRIDGE (桥梁 实用汉语中级教程下)|187}}
-* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1]] (pp. 123-4) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276792/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276792 →buy]
+{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1|123-4}}
-*[[卓越汉语－公司实战篇]] (pp. 166-7) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E5%8D%93%E8%B6%8A%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD-%E5%85%AC%E5%8F%B8%E5%AE%9E%E6%88%98%E7%AF%87-%E8%83%A1%E7%81%B5%E5%9D%87/dp/B003QZWQ6M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347863170&sr=8-1 →buy]
+{{Source|卓越汉语－公司实战篇|166-7}}
+{{Source|HSK Standard Course 5上|66}}
 [[Category:B1 grammar points]]
+{{HSK|HSK5}}
 [[Category:Prepositions]]
-{{Basic Grammar|要|B1|Reason / Situation，要不 + Option B + 吧|下雨 了，<em>要不</em> 明天 再 去 吧 。|grammar point|ASGDFQP7}}
+{{Basic Grammar|要不|B1|Reason / Situation，要不 + Suggestion + 吧|下雨 了，<em>要不</em> 明天 再 去 吧 。|grammar point|ASGDFQP7}}
-{{Rel char|要不}}
+{{Rel char|吧}}
-{{POS|Conjunctions}}
 {{Similar|"Or" in statements}}
-{{Similar|Expressing "either ... or ..." with "yaome"}}
 {{Similar|Suggestions with "ba"}}
 {{Similar|Expressing "had better" with "haishi"}}
+{{Similar|Expressing "either... or..." with "yaome"}}
+{{Similar|Providing two options with double "huozhe"}}
 {{Used for|Giving alternatives}}
 {{Used for|Indicating cause and effect}}
@@ Line 63: / Line 79: @@
 {{Translation|or}}
 {{Translation|how about}}
+{{POS|Conjunctions}}