What Does 要不 (yào bù) Mean in Chinese?
Enhanced context lessonCommon
How about…? / Otherwise
Quick answer: What does 要不 mean?
要不 — At the start of a suggestion, 要不 introduces an alternative. It can also lead into an “otherwise” consequence.
✓How about…?
✓Why don’t we…?
✓Otherwise…
What Chinese people actually mean
The sentence after 要不 tells you whether it is a friendly proposal or an alternative if the first plan fails.
Literal meaning
Literally, if not or otherwise.
When not to use it
Do not treat 要不 as a complete firm decision without the suggestion that follows.
Common mistakes
- It introduces an alternative proposal, often gently.
Chinese characters
Open each character to see its own meanings and vocabulary links.
Real conversations
1 · Suggesting dinner
A: 晚饭吃什么？
wǎnfàn chī shénme?
A: What should we have for dinner?
B: 要不吃面吧？
yào bù chī miàn ba?
B: How about noodles?
2 · Offering a different plan
A: 快迟到了。
kuài chídào le.
A: We’re going to be late.
B: 要不我们打车？
yào bù wǒmen dǎchē?
B: How about taking a taxi?
How to pronounce 要不
要不
Tap to hear Mandarin.
When to use it
✓Common before a suggestion in spoken Mandarin.
✓The proposal that follows can be softened with 吧.
✓In a warning or conditional sentence, it can mean “otherwise.”
Sources and editorial note
Base dictionary data: CC-CEDICT · CC BY-SA 4.0.Context lesson: Original Chinese Meaning context lesson; examples written for this site.