否则
HSK 4 (exam 2025)HSK 4 (2021)Old HSK 4
否则 (fǒuzé) · otherwise
否则 (fǒuzé) means “otherwise; or else”. It is written with 2 characters: 否 (no) + 则 (then). It is an HSK 4 word in the current exam syllabus (2025).
How 否则 is built
The characters
否 fǒu · no
What 否 is made of
- 不bù — no
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 口kǒu — mouth
- 冂 — frame
- 丨 — vertical stroke
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 冂 — frame
Origin hint: 不 gives the meaning, 口 gives the sound. (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
则 zé · then
What 则 is made of
- 贝bèi — sea shell
- 冂 — frame
- 丨 — vertical stroke
- 人rén — person
- 冂 — frame
- 刂dāo — knife
- 丨 — vertical stroke
- 亅 — hook
Origin hint: Laws inscribed 刂 on a slate 贝 (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
Example sentences
快点儿走，否则就迟到了。Kuàidiǎnr zǒu, fǒuzé jiù chídào le.Hurry up, or we'll be late.
你得多穿点儿，否则会感冒的。Nǐ děi duō chuān diǎnr, fǒuzé huì gǎnmào de.You should wear more, otherwise you'll catch a cold.
Questions about 否则
What does 否则 mean?
否则 (fǒuzé) means “otherwise; or else”.
How do you pronounce 否则?
否则 is pronounced fǒuzé.
Which HSK level is 否则?
否则 is in HSK 4 (exam 2025) and HSK 4 (2021) and Old HSK 4.
Related words
- 否定fǒudìngto deny
- 否认fǒurènto deny
- 是否shìfǒuwhether (or not)
- 否决fǒujuéto veto
- 能否néngfǒuwhether or not
- 规则guīzérule
- 原则yuánzéprinciple
- 准则zhǔnzénorm
- 则zéthen
Learn 否则 with its group
It is part of HSK 4 (2021) · Group 49: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.