Expressing "how about" with "yaobu"

要不 (yào bù) can have a number of meanings depending on how it is used.

要不 as to mark possible choices

要不 can be used to offer "either/or" choices to others, similar to 或者.

  • 要不 看书 要不 听音乐 。You can either study or listen to music.
  • 要不 你 做,要不 我 做,但是 一定 要 做 完。Either you do it or I do it, but it's definitely going to be done.

Another word that can be used in a similar pattern is 要么, with the difference that 要么 can only be used to list the either/or choices available to oneself as well as the choices available to others.

要不 used for suggestions

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.

  • 一个人去看电影没意思,要不 我们 一起 去 吧。It's no fun to go to the movie by myself.How about we go together?
  • 要不 我们 去 逛街 吧,比 在家 睡觉 有 意思。Let's go shopping.It's more fun than sleeping at home.

要不 means otherwise

要不 can also be used to mean otherwise:

  • 你 快点 打电话 给 他,要不 他会 很 担心。I need to call him soon, or he'll start to worry.
  • 我 要 打的, 要不 我会迟到。I'm going to take a taxi, otherwise I'll be late.
  • 我们 今 晚 需要 收拾 好 行李,要不 明天 来 不 及。We need to prepare the luggage tonight, otherwise there won't be time tomorrow.

要不然 can be used interchangeably with 要不 when it is used as 否则.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books