(bù rán) - otherwise, or else, if not so in Mandarin
bùránTraditional: 不然
HSK 3
#768 of 5,000 Core 1000
Translation
otherwise, or else, if not so
Word origin
A two-character expression: 不 'not' plus 然 'so, thus' (which contains the fire radical 灬 beneath, the character originally meaning 'to burn'). Together 不然 means 'otherwise' or 'or else'.
- Origin
- compound
- Root
- 不 (not) + 然 (so, with 灬 fire)
Stroke order
不
然
Examples
，。
Hurry up, or else we will be late.
，。
You must work hard, otherwise you will fail.
，。
Close the door, or else it will be cold.
，。
Walk faster, otherwise we will be late.
，。
Walk faster, otherwise we'll be late.
不然 (bù rán) means otherwise, or else, if not so. It is used as a conjunction in everyday Mandarin speech.
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Go to my review queueThis word is part of lesson 16.