Hypothetical Sentences: “……，否则……”

In “……，否则……” (…, fǒuzé…) the first clause states a requirement, a piece of advice or a condition, and the second says what happens if it is not met.

How it is translated

otherwise or else

requirement / advice / condition，否则 + consequence

Meaning: do what the first clause says, or the second clause is what follows.

还是别给自己太大压力，否则，失去健康就不值得了

别给自己太大压力，否则 + 失去健康就不值得了 don’t pressure yourself, otherwise + losing your health is not worth it

还是 — better 别 — don’t 给自己太大压力 — put too much pressure on yourself 否则 — otherwise 失去健康 — lose your health 不值得 — is not worth it

今晚早点儿睡吧，否则明天早上起不来，又该迟到了

今晚早点儿睡吧，否则 + 明天早上起不来 go to bed earlier, otherwise + you won’t get up

今晚 — tonight 早点儿睡 — go to bed earlier 否则 — otherwise 明天早上 — tomorrow morning 起不来 — cannot get up 又该迟到了 — you will be late again

吃不完的菜要放进冰箱，否则很容易坏

吃不完的菜要放进冰箱，否则 + 很容易坏 put leftovers in the fridge, otherwise + they spoil easily

吃不完的菜 — food you cannot finish 要放进冰箱 — should go in the fridge 否则 — otherwise 很容易 — very easily 坏 — go bad

A，否则 + B

Here: A — the requirement, advice or condition 否则 — otherwise B — what follows if A is not met Meaning: do A, or else B.

别给自己太大压力，否则失去健康就不值得了

今晚早点儿睡吧，否则明天早上起不来

吃不完的菜要放进冰箱，否则很容易坏