Colloquially, 要不 (yàobù) can be used for making suggestions, like how we use "how about" in English.

Structure

要不 can be used as an indirect way of giving a suggestion, as the speaker is using 要不 to seek consent of the listener. (Once again, 要么 can be used similarly.) When using 要不 in this way, it can come either at the beginning of the sentence, or in the middle, after explaining the situation.

Examples

要不我们一起去吧，一个人去没意思。Yàobù wǒmen yīqǐ qù ba, yīgèrén qù méi yìsi.How about we go together? It's no fun to go by myself.
挺好吃的，要不你尝尝？Tǐng hǎochī de, yàobù nǐ chángchang?It's tasty. Would you like to taste it?
要不我们换个地方吧，这里太吵了。Yàobù wǒmen huàn gè dìfang ba, zhèlǐ tài chǎo le.How about we go to somewhere else? It's too loud here.
要不你先走吧，我还没做完。Yàobù nǐ xiān zǒu bā, wǒ hái méi zuò wán.How about you go first? I haven't finished yet.
下雨了，要不明天去吧。Xiàyǔ le, yàobù míngtiān qù ba.It's raining. How about we go tomorrow?
走路去挺远的，要不我开车送你去吧。Zǒulù qù tǐng yuǎn de, yàobù wǒ kāichē sòng nǐ qù ba.It's quite far away to walk there. How about I drive you there?

Multiple Meanings

When 要不 (yào bù) is used to mean "otherwise”, it's a shortened form of 要不然, which literally means "if that's not the case."

Note 要不 (yào bù) can also be used to offer "either/or" choices to others, similar to 要么.

你先吃吧，要不然 饭就凉了。Nǐ xiān chī ba, yào bùrán fàn jiù liáng le.You should eat, otherwise the food gets cold.
走吧，要不没地铁了。Zǒu ba, yàobù méi dìtiě le.Let's go, or we will miss the last metro.
打车去吧，要不 会迟到的。Dǎ chē qù ba, yào bù huì chídào de.You should take a taxi, otherwise you'll be late.
快说对不起吧，要不然 她要生气了。Kuài shuō duìbuqǐ ba, yào bùrán tā yào shēngqì le.Say sorry, otherwise she's going to be angry.
快点回家吧，要不你爸妈会担心的。Kuài diǎn huíjiā ba, yào bù nǐ bàmā huì dānxīn de.Hurry and go home, or your parents will start to worry.

Structure

Examples

Multiple Meanings

See also

Sources and further reading

Books