“Otherwise” in Chinese – fǒuzé

Grammar Point:
The Chinese word 否則则 fǒuzé means “otherwise.” Unlike 要不然 yàoburán, it carries a slight sense of threat or warning, as it implies that if a certain action is not taken or condition is not met, there will be consequences.

Structure

Condition + fǒuzé + Result

你nǐ先xiān做zuò完wán作業zuòyè，否則fǒuzé別bié想xiǎng看kàn電視diànshì你nǐ先xiān做zuò完wán作业zuòyè，否则fǒuzé别bié想xiǎng看kàn电视diànshì
Finish your homework first, otherwise, forget about watching TV.

不要búyào隨便suíbiàn就jiù放棄fàngqì，否則fǒuzé對不起duìbùqǐ自己zìjǐ不要búyào随便suíbiàn就jiù放弃fàngqì，否则fǒuzé对不起duìbuqǐ自己zìjǐ
Don’t give up easily, or you’ll regret it.

你nǐ別bié到處dàochù亂luàn說話shuōhuà，否則fǒuzé你nǐ會huì惹rě上shàng麻煩máfán你nǐ别bié到处dàochù乱luàn说话shuōhuà，否则fǒuzé你nǐ会huì惹rě上shang麻烦máfan
Stop talking nonsense, or you’ll get into trouble.

一個人yígerén有yǒu缺點quēdiǎn就jiù不要búyào怕pà別人biérén指出zhǐchū，否則fǒuzé永遠yǒngyuǎn也yě不會búhuì進步jìnbù一个人yígerén有yǒu缺点quēdiǎn就jiù不要búyào怕pà别人biérén指出zhǐchū，否则fǒuzé永远yǒngyuǎn也yě不会búhuì进步jìnbù
If you’re afraid of others pointing out your flaws, you’ll never improve.

先xiān做zuò你nǐ現在xiànzài能néng做zuò的de，否則fǒuzé你nǐ永遠yǒngyuǎn也yě不會búhuì開始kāishǐ先xiān做zuò你nǐ现在xiànzài能néng做zuò的de，否则fǒuzé你nǐ永远yǒngyuǎn也yě不会búhuì开始kāishǐ
Start with what you can do now, or you’ll never get started.

Chúfēi + Condition + fǒuzé + Result

除非 chúfēi …否則则 fǒuzé … is a structure in Chinese that is similar to “unless” in English. In this structure, there is no sense of threat or warning, but it is more formal than 要不然 yàoburán.

除非chúfēi是shì大考dàkǎo，否則fǒuzé他tā絕對juéduì不會búhuì看書kànshū的de除非chúfēi是shì大考dàkǎo，否则fǒuzé他tā绝对juéduì不会búhuì看书kànshū的de
He will never study unless it’s a big exam.

除非chúfēi他tā說shuō他tā愛ài我wǒ， 否則fǒuzé我wǒ不可能bùkěnéng跟gēn他tā結婚jiéhūn除非chúfēi他tā说shuō他tā爱ài我wǒ， 否则fǒuzé我wǒ不可能bùkěnéng跟gēn他tā结婚jiéhūn
I won’t marry him unless he says he loves me.

除非chúfēi這個zhège工作gōngzuò有yǒu很hěn多duō錢qián， 否則fǒuzé我wǒ不bú做zuò除非chúfēi这个zhège工作gōngzuò有yǒu很hěn多duō钱qián， 否则fǒuzé我wǒ不bú做zuò
I won’t take the job unless it pays well.