jiu3 bat1 jin4要不然
Jyutpingjiu3 bat1 jin4
Yaleyiu bāt yìhn
Definition
Otherwise; or else; if not.
colloquialcommunication
How it's used
While 要不然 is understood in Hong Kong, it is heavily influenced by Mandarin and is rarely used in natural spoken Cantonese. Locals almost exclusively use 如果唔係 or 唔係嘅話 to express this meaning. Using it in casual conversation can make you sound like you are reading from a textbook or a dubbed television show.
Examples
Hurry up and leave, otherwise you won't make the boat.
Related words
Common phrases
otherwise
Common mistake
Learners often use 要不然 because it is a direct translation of 'otherwise', but it sounds unnatural in daily speech. Stick to 如果唔係 to sound like a native speaker.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
