不然 bùrán
otherwise / or else
不然 (bùrán) means "otherwise / or else" in Chinese and is one of the highest-frequency words in the Speak1000 curriculum.
Words used with 不然
要不
yào bù
how about / otherwise
感冒
gǎnmào
to catch a cold
错过
cuòguò
to miss (an opportunity, a train)
飞机
fēijī
airplane
毕业
bìyè
to graduate
Frequently asked questions
What does 不然 (bùrán) mean in Chinese?
不然 (bùrán) means "otherwise / or else" in Chinese. 不然 (bùrán) means "otherwise / or else" in Chinese and is one of the highest-frequency words in the Speak1000 curriculum.
How do you use 不然 in a sentence?
Use 不然 (bùrán) the way you would use "otherwise / or else" in English, then build longer sentences by adding words you already know around it.
What words are commonly used with 不然?
Common words that pair with 不然 include 要不. Learning these together helps you build complete, natural sentences instead of isolated vocabulary.
What is the difference between 不然 (bùrán) and 无所谓 (wúsuǒwèi)?
Both are high-frequency Chinese words taught early in Speak1000. 不然 means "otherwise / or else"; 无所谓 means "doesn't matter / don't care". The fastest way to tell them apart is to hear each one used in real sentences — our free lessons drill every word in context so the contrast becomes natural.
Related Chinese concepts
Hear 不然 used in real sentences
The fastest way to remember 不然 (bùrán) is to hear it used naturally. Start free and practice with audio from day one.
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