How to Say “How About” with 要不 (yàobù)
要不 (yàobù) is the colloquial “how about…?”, a soft suggestion that seeks the listener's agreement: 时间还早，要不再喝一杯吧 (“it's still early, how about another drink?”). It leads the suggestion, usually with 吧 or said as a question. The same 要不 also means “otherwise / or else.”
Why this trips learners up
When you want to float an idea and check the other person is on board, Chinese reaches for 要不 (yàobù), the colloquial “how about…?” You give the situation, then lead your suggestion with 要不: [Situation] ，要不 + [Suggestion]. 时间还早，要不再喝一杯吧 (“it's still early, how about another drink?”), 你看起来不舒服，要不去看看医生吧 (“you look unwell, how about seeing a doctor?”).
要不 can also come first, with the situation explained after: 要不 + [Suggestion] ，[Situation]. 要不我们一起去，一个人没意思 (“how about we go together, going alone is no fun”). Either way, 要不 attaches to the suggestion, and that suggestion is usually softened with 吧 or simply said as a question. The whole effect is gentle and consent-seeking, not a command.
The same 要不 has a second life meaning “otherwise / or else,” where it's a clipped form of 要不然 (“if that's not the case”). Here it introduces the bad thing that happens if you don't act: [Advice] ，要不 + [bad consequence], often closing with 会…的. 多穿点衣服，要不会感冒的 (“wear more clothes, or you'll catch a cold”), 你快点，要不就赶不上火车了 (“hurry, or you'll miss the train”).
Both meanings grow from the literal “if not”: “how about (this alternative)?” and “(do it,) or else…”. You'll also hear it doubled as 要不…要不… for “either…or…”, much like 要么: 周末要不去爬山，要不去海边 (“this weekend, either we go hiking or to the beach”). One small caution: 要不 (“how about”) is not 要不要, the A-not-A question “do you want…?”.
The structure
Colour key
Each colour marks one grammatical role — and the same colour means the same role on every page in the Lab.
Examples in context
Real-world sentences, easiest first. Toggle pinyin or the translation, tap any word to see its role, or play the audio.
Tap a word to see its grammatical role.
nǐ 你 Subject kàn qǐlái 看起来 Verb bù shūfu 不舒服 Adjective yàobù 要不 Pattern qù 去 Verb kànkan 看看 Verb yīshēng 医生 Object ba 吧 Function word
You look unwell, how about you go see a doctor? (situation + 要不 + suggestion + 吧).
yàobù 要不 Pattern wǒmen 我们 Subject jiào 叫 Verb gè 个 Measure word wàimài 外卖 Object
How about we order takeout? (要不 leading, as a question).
shíjiān 时间 Subject hái 还 Adverb zǎo 早 Adjective yàobù 要不 Pattern zài 再 Adverb hē 喝 Verb yì bēi 一杯 Measure word ba 吧 Function word
It's still early, how about another drink? (situation + 要不 + suggestion).
nǐ 你 Subject ná bú dòng 拿不动 Verb yàobù 要不 Pattern wǒ 我 Subject bāng 帮 Verb nǐ 你 Object ba 吧 Function word
You can't carry it, how about I help you? (要不 offering to help).
nǐ 你 Subject kuài diǎn 快点 Adverb ba 吧 Function word yàobù 要不 Pattern jiù 就 Adverb gǎn bú shàng 赶不上 Verb huǒchē 火车 Object le 了 Function word
Hurry up, otherwise you'll miss the train (the “otherwise” sense, 要不 + 就).
duō 多 Adverb chuān 穿 Verb diǎn 点 Measure word yīfu 衣服 Object yàobù 要不 Pattern huì 会 Function word gǎnmào 感冒 Verb de 的 Function word
Wear more clothes, or you'll catch a cold (the “otherwise” 会…的 frame).
zhōumò 周末 Time yàobù 要不 Pattern qù 去 Verb páshān 爬山 Verb yàobù 要不 Pattern qù 去 Verb hǎibiān 海边 Place nǐ 你 Subject dìng 定 Verb ba 吧 Function word
This weekend, either we go hiking or to the beach, you decide (要不…要不… for “either…or…”).
zhège fāng'àn 这个方案 Subject dàjiā 大家 Subject hǎoxiàng 好像 Adverb dōu 都 Adverb bù tài 不太 Adverb mǎnyì 满意 Adjective yàobù 要不 Pattern wǒmen 我们 Subject zài 再 Adverb tǎolùn 讨论 Verb yíxià 一下 Complement
Everyone seems unhappy with this plan, how about we discuss it a bit more (a polite “how about”).
Common mistakes
Why it happens: 要不 leads the suggestion, not the reason. Give the situation first, then 要不 + what you propose: 大家累了，要不休息一下吧 (“everyone's tired, how about a rest?”), not 要不大家累了…
Why it happens: 要不 (“how about / otherwise”) is not 要不要, the A-not-A question “do you want…?”. 你要不要喝点水？ asks “do you want some water?”; 要不喝点水吧 suggests “how about some water.” Don't drop the second 要.
Why it happens: In the “otherwise” sense, the advice comes first, then 要不 + the result of not doing it: 快走吧，要不会迟到 (“hurry, or you'll be late”), not 要不会迟到，快走吧. You can't lead with the consequence.
Compare & contrast
| 要不 = “how about” (a friendly suggestion, +吧 / ?) | 要不(然) = “otherwise / or else” (a warning, +会…的) | The difference |
|---|---|---|
| 太晚了，要不你住这里吧。tài wǎn le, yàobù nǐ zhù zhèlǐ ba. | 早点睡吧，要不明天会很累。zǎodiǎn shuì ba, yàobù míngtiān huì hěn lèi. | 太晚了，要不你住这里吧 proposes a kind alternative: “it's late, how about you stay here?” 早点睡吧，要不明天会很累 warns of a consequence: “go to bed early, or you'll be tired tomorrow.” |
| 要不我们明天去吧？yàobù wǒmen míngtiān qù ba? | 快走吧，要不赶不上车了。kuài zǒu ba, yàobù gǎn bú shàng chē le. | 要不我们明天去吧？ floats a plan: “how about we go tomorrow?” 快走吧，要不赶不上车了 sounds the alarm: “hurry, or we'll miss the bus.” |
Try it yourself
Say “How about we take a taxi?” Lead the suggestion with 要不.
Related patterns
Quick reference card
How to Say “How About” with 要不 (yàobù) grammar.merrymandarin.com A pocket summary — print it and keep it by your desk.