otherwise; if not; or else
HSK level
否则 is written with 13 strokes (否: 7, 则: 6). The animation replays automatically.
否则 (fǒuzé) is a Chinese conjunction meaning 'otherwise,' 'if not,' or 'or else.'
It links two clauses: the first states a condition or action, and 否则 introduces the (usually negative) consequence that follows if that condition is not met (你得快点，否则会迟到 = 'you'd better hurry, otherwise you'll be late'). It leans slightly formal or written; in everyday speech 不然 or 要不 carry the same meaning.
For English speakers, the key point is placement: 否则 begins the second clause and looks back at the whole first clause as the premise — it does not connect two nouns like English 'or.' It always warns of what happens should the prior statement fail to hold, so the following clause typically describes an undesirable outcome (会……, 就……).
Note: 否则 is slightly formal or written. In casual speech, 不然 (bùrán) or 要不 (yàobù) is more common for the same 'otherwise' meaning.
Character by character
Memory hook: 否 (if not) + 则 (then) — 'if not, then...' = otherwise.
快走吧，否则我们就赶不上车了。
Kuài zǒu ba, fǒuzé wǒmen jiù gǎn bu shàng chē le.
Let's go quickly, otherwise we'll miss the bus.
spoken
你必须努力学习，否则考不好。
Nǐ bìxū nǔlì xuéxí, fǒuzé kǎo bu hǎo.
You must study hard, otherwise you won't do well on the exam.
neutral
请按时交作业，否则会被扣分。
Qǐng ànshí jiāo zuòyè, fǒuzé huì bèi kòu fēn.
Please hand in your homework on time, otherwise points will be deducted.
neutral
计划必须提前完成，否则将影响整个项目。
Jìhuà bìxū tíqián wánchéng, fǒuzé jiāng yǐngxiǎng zhěnggè xiàngmù.
The plan must be finished ahead of time, otherwise it will affect the whole project.
written
不然 is the everyday spoken equivalent of 否则 ('otherwise'). Meaning is nearly identical, but 不然 is more colloquial and 否则 more formal/written. In conversation, prefer 不然.
要不 means 'otherwise' but often softens into 'or how about...' introducing a suggestion (要不我们明天去). 否则 only warns of consequences and never introduces a friendly alternative.
否定 means 'to negate / deny' or 'negative' (grammar). It shares 否 with 否则 but is a verb/adjective about rejection, not the 'otherwise' conjunction.
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