Otherwise (否则)

否则 is a formal conjunction meaning "otherwise" or "if not." It connects two clauses: the first states a condition, suggestion, or instruction, and the second (introduced by 否则) states the undesirable consequence of not following through. It is equivalent to 要不然 in meaning but is more formal and commonly found in written Chinese.

否则 always appears at the start of the second clause. The first clause typically contains a suggestion, command, statement of necessity, or description of a situation. The second clause describes what will happen if the first clause is not fulfilled.

In spoken Chinese, 要不然 or 不然 are more natural alternatives. 否则 is preferred in formal writing, speeches, and news reports. It adds a sense of seriousness and urgency to the warning or consequence.