How to say “how about” in Chinese with 要不
要不 (yàobù) + Suggestion / Option
Expressing "how about" with "要不 (yàobù)"
要不 (yàobù) + Suggestion / Option
HSK 5ConjunctionsExpressing "how about" with "要不 (yàobù)"
Rule structure
要不 (yàobù) is a colloquial way to make a suggestion or propose an alternative. It is short for 要不然 (yàoburán). It softens the tone and invites agreement.
Rule structure
要不 (yàobù) is a colloquial way to make a suggestion or propose an alternative. It is short for 要不然 (yàoburán). It softens the tone and invites agreement.
Examples
要不我们去看电影?
Yàobù wǒmen qù kàn diànyǐng?
How about we go to the movies?
Examples
要不我们去看电影?
Yàobù wǒmen qù kàn diànyǐng?
How about we go to the movies?
Build the sentence
Drag the characters to put them in the correct order
Frequently asked questions
How do you express “Expressing "how about" with "要不 (yàobù)"” in Chinese?
Use the structure: 要不 (yàobù) + Suggestion / Option. For example: 要不我们去看电影? — “How about we go to the movies?”.
What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?
要不我们去看电影? — “How about we go to the movies?”.
Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?
This grammar rule is part of HSK 5.
Tomyo
Learn Chinese grammar with smart reviews
Grammar explanations, exercises and spaced repetition — all in one app.
More HSK 5 grammar rules
Complement "-坏了 (huàile)"
Verb / Adj. + 坏了 (huàile)
Expressing "what if" with "万一 (wànyī)"
万一 (wànyī) + (Undesirable) Condition + 怎么办 (zěnme bàn)?
Expressing "even if…" with "就是 (jiùshì)"
就是 (jiùshì)⋯⋯,也 (yě)⋯⋯
Continuing state with "还 (hái)…呢 (ne)"
Subj. + 还 (hái) + Predicate + 呢 (ne)
Expressing "related to…" with "有关的 (yǒuguān de)"
跟 (gēn) / 和 (hé) / 与 (yǔ) + Noun + 有关的 (yǒuguān de) + Noun
Adjectival complement "得很 (de hěn)"
Adj. + 得很 (de hěn)
Using "来 (lái)" and "去 (qù)" when "verbing around"
Verb 1 + 来 (lái) + Verb 1 + 去 (qù)
Expressing "especially" with "格外 (géwài)"
格外 (géwài) + Adj. / Verb
