<p><code>不然</code> means <code>otherwise</code> in a declarative sentence and <code>alternatively; how about</code> in an imperative sentence.</p>
<p>In spoken language it can begin a sentence to propose 'plan B', which implies a self-evident 'plan A' that is favorable to one party but not the other, and there is no need to talk about it so the speaker jumps to the alternative plan already.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>不然你逛那边的时候，我逛电子商品区.</p>
<p>(Hidden context: ideally we should stick together but we couldn't for some obvious reason, like one person is not interested in the stuff the other person wants to shop, or both of us need to buy something but we're running out of time.) <b>How about this</b>, I am going to look around for the electronic products while you're shopping in that area.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-26T23:16:54.307Z
2014-08-26T23:16:54.307Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
NS.X.
<p>Usually "不然" means "otherwise", and has similar meaning with "否则".</p>

<p>However in this context, I think it means "alternatively", "or", and it is better to say "要不然".</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-02T10:16:03.557Z
2014-09-02T10:16:03.557Z
Isaac
<p>Usually 不然 means "otherwise", but here I think another translate would be "Another choice is..."</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-26T23:10:12.603Z
2014-08-26T23:10:12.603Z
Xiaoge Su
<p>不然你逛那边的时候，我逛电子商品区.</p>

<p>I came across this but none of the dictionary meanings for 不然 seem to fit when it's at the beginning of a sentence. What's the meaning here as are this a common usage?</p>

<vocabulary>
不然 when it occurs at the beginning of a sentence
# 不然 when it occurs at the beginning of a sentence

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-08-26)

不然你逛那边的时候，我逛电子商品区.

I came across this but none of the dictionary meanings for 不然 seem to fit when it's at the beginning of a sentence. What's the meaning here as are this a common usage?

**Tags:** vocabulary


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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-08-26. Score: 5

`不然` means `otherwise` in a declarative sentence and `alternatively; how about` in an imperative sentence.

In spoken language it can begin a sentence to propose 'plan B', which implies a self-evident 'plan A' that is favorable to one party but not the other, and there is no need to talk about it so the speaker jumps to the alternative plan already.

> 不然你逛那边的时候，我逛电子商品区.
>
> (Hidden context: ideally we should stick together but we couldn't for some obvious reason, like one person is not interested in the stuff the other person wants to shop, or both of us need to buy something but we're running out of time.) **How about this**, I am going to look around for the electronic products while you're shopping in that area.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2014-09-02. Score: 1

Usually "不然" means "otherwise", and has similar meaning with "否则".

However in this context, I think it means "alternatively", "or", and it is better to say "要不然".


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### Answer by username_3 on 2014-08-26. Score: 1

Usually 不然 means "otherwise", but here I think another translate would be "Another choice is..."


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