假设复句 · HSK 4 (new at this level)
HSK 4 Pattern: 要是…否则/不然…
Presents a condition and warns about the negative consequence if it's NOT met. 否则/不然 mean 'otherwise'.
要是 + condition, (就)… ; 否则/不然 + bad consequence
Examples / 例句
要是明天不下雨，我们就去爬山。
Yàoshi míngtiān bú xià yǔ, wǒmen jiù qù páshān.
If it doesn't rain tomorrow, we'll go hiking.
要是…就 = simple if-then
你要早点出发，否则会迟到的。
Nǐ yào zǎo diǎn chūfā, fǒuzé huì chídào de.
You should leave early, otherwise you'll be late.
否则 = otherwise (formal warning)
快点写作业，不然来不及了。
Kuài diǎn xiě zuòyè, bùrán lái bù jí le.
Do your homework quickly, or you won't make it.
不然 = otherwise (casual)
你最好按时吃药，否则病可能会更严重。
Nǐ zuìhǎo ànshí chī yào, fǒuzé bìng kěnéng huì gèng yánzhòng.
You'd better take your medicine on time, otherwise your illness may become more serious.
最好 + 否则 + 可能会 = polite warning of a bad outcome — HSK 4 health context
我们得提前预订房间，不然到时候就没地方住了。
Wǒmen děi tíqián yùdìng fángjiān, bùrán dào shíhou jiù méi dìfang zhù le.
We have to book a room in advance, or there'll be no place to stay when we arrive.
不然 + 到时候 = casual contingency warning — HSK 4 travel-planning topic
Common Errors / 常见错误
✗ 要是你不来，否则我自己去。
✓ 要是你不来，我就自己去。/ 你最好来，否则我自己去了。
Don't combine 要是 directly with 否则 — 否则 already implies 'if not'. Either use 要是…就 or state the condition + 否则.
✗ 否则努力学习，你不能通过考试。
✓ 如果不努力学习，你就不能通过考试。
否则 goes AFTER the main statement, not at the beginning.
Easily confused: 要是…就 = if A, then B (neutral). 要是…否则 = if NOT A, then bad B (warning).
See comparison →
Fill in the Blank / 填空练习
Complete each sentence using this pattern. Type the missing word(s) and press Enter.
你得早点出发，会迟到的。
明天天气好，我们就去爬山。
快点出发吧，来不及了。
Quick Quiz / 小测验
你得多穿点衣服，___会感冒的。
Warning consequence → 否则 (otherwise you'll catch cold).
___你有时间，就来我家吃饭吧。
Simple if-then → 要是.
快走吧，___赶不上火车了。
Casual 'otherwise' → 不然.
HSK 4 Mock Test Questions Using 要是…否则/不然… / 真题示例
2 real HSK 4 questions from our mock exams that test this pattern:
From HSK 4 Mock Test 01 · Q68
地球是我们共同的家，保护环境就是保护我们自己，为减少污染，我们应该养成节约的习惯，节约用水、节约用纸等等。
★ 节约用纸主要是为了：
★ 节约用纸主要是为了：
A 保护环境 ✓B 限制用水C 改变地球D 发展经济
From HSK 4 Mock Test 02 · Q78
78. 很多时候孩子发脾气是为了得到一些好处，父母不能因为孩子发脾气就给他好处。如果我们不重视这个问题，他就容易养成发脾气的坏习惯。孩子发脾气主要是因为：
A 缺少关心B 父母批评他C 想得到好处 ✓D 想引起别人注意
要是…否则/不然… FAQ
When is 要是…否则/不然… tested in HSK 4?
要是…否则/不然… (If... otherwise...) appears in HSK 4 reading comprehension (Q66-85) when texts use complex sentences, in 阅读排序 (Q56-65) where this pattern's connectors signal sentence order, and in listening 段落 (Q26-45) where the speaker uses it to express presents a condition and warns about the negative consequence if it's not met.
What's the most common mistake with 要是…否则/不然…?
要是…就 = if A, then B (neutral). 要是…否则 = if NOT A, then bad B (warning).
Is 要是…否则/不然… required at HSK 4 or higher?
HSK 4 (new at this level)