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

Line 25: Line 25:
 
*<em>要不</em> 我们 换 个 地方 吧 ,这里 太 吵 了 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yàobù</em> wǒmen huàn gè dìfang ba, 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> 我们 换 个 地方 吧 ,这里 太 吵 了 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yàobù</em> wǒmen huàn gè dìfang ba, 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> 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> 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>
*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 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>
*太 远 了 ,<em>要不</em> 我 开车 送 你 去 吧 。<span class="pinyin">Tài yuǎn le, <em>yàobù</em> wǒ kāichē sòng nǐ qù ba.</span><span class="trans">It's too far. How about I drive you there?</span>
+
*太 远 了 ,<em>要不</em> 我 开车 送 你 去 <span class="pinyin">Tài yuǎn le, <em>yàobù</em> wǒ kāichē sòng nǐ qù?</span><span class="trans">It's too far. How about I drive you there?</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>

Revision as of 07:32, 22 December 2017

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.

Reason / Situation ,要不 ⋯⋯ (+ 吧)

or

要不 ⋯⋯ (+ 吧) ,Reason / Situation

Examples

  • 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.
  • 挺 好吃 的 ,要不 你 尝尝 ?Tǐng hǎochī de, yàobù nǐ chángchang?It's tasty. Would you like to taste it?
  • 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 bā, wǒ hái méi zuò wán.How about you go 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?
  • 太 远 了 ,要不 我 开车 送 你 去 ?Tài yuǎn le, yàobù wǒ kāichē sòng nǐ qù?It's too far. How about I drive you there?

Multiple Meanings

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

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

Here are a few examples of 要不 (yào bù) used as "otherwise":

  • 你 先 吃 吧 ,要不然 饭 就 凉 了 。Nǐ xiān chī ba, yào bùrán fàn jiù liáng le.You should eat, otherwise the food gets cold.
  • 打车 吧 ,要不 会 迟到 的 。Dǎchē ba, yào bù huì chídào de.You should take a taxi, otherwise you'll be late.
  • 好好 复习 吧 ,要 不然 又 考 不 好 。Hǎohǎo fùxí ba, yào bùrán yòu kǎo bu hǎo.Review well, otherwise you're going to fail the exam again.
  • 快 回家 吧 ,要不 你 爸妈 会 担心 的 。Kuài huíjiā ba, yào bù nǐ bà mā huì dānxīn de.Hurry up. Go home, or your parents will start to worry.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books