bù​rán HSK4

otherwise

Senses

不然 bù​rán otherwise

otherwise; if not; or else

不然 bù​rán not so

not the case; not so; used to express that the actual situation is different from what was previously mentioned or expected

不然 bù​rán could it be that

used in rhetorical questions to express doubt or suspicion; is it possible that; could it be

不然 bù​rán no

no; used as a polite or formal way to disagree with what someone has just said

不然 bù​rán had better

had better; would be better to; used to suggest an alternative course of action

不然 bù​rán unhappy

(literary) displeased; unhappy; dissatisfied

不然 bù​rán not work

(literary) to not work out; to be unfeasible; to fail to progress

References

synonym 不然/不然 否则/否則
see 除非/除非 不然/不然
synonym 否则/否則 不然/不然
same_as 再不然/再不然 不然/不然