Usage note
否则表示如果不这样，就会有别的结果。
fǒu zé biǎo shì rú guǒ bú zhè yàng， jiù huì yǒu bié de jié guǒ。
Otherwise means if not this way, there will be a different result.
Context note
否则常出现在提醒、警告和条件句里。
fǒu zé cháng chū xiàn zài tí xǐng 、 jǐng gào hé tiáo jiàn jù lǐ。
Otherwise often appears in reminders, warnings, and conditional sentences.
5 examples
快一点，否则会迟到。
kuài yì diǎn， fǒu zé huì chí dào。
Hurry up, otherwise you will be late.
要认真做，否则会错。
yào rèn zhēn zuò， fǒu zé huì cuò。
Do it carefully, otherwise it will be wrong.
先休息，否则太累。
xiān xiū xi， fǒu zé tài lèi。
Rest first, otherwise it is too tiring.
小心点，否则会摔倒。
xiǎo xīn diǎn， fǒu zé huì shuāi dǎo。
Be careful, otherwise you will fall.
快走，否则赶不上车。
kuài zǒu， fǒu zé gǎn bú shàng chē。
Go quickly, otherwise you will miss the bus.
5 mini stories
老师提醒我们快一点，否则会迟到。
lǎo shī tí xǐng wǒ men kuài yì diǎn， fǒu zé huì chí dào。
The teacher reminded us to hurry, otherwise we would be late.
要认真检查，否则会有错误。
yào rèn zhēn jiǎn chá， fǒu zé huì yǒu cuò wù。
You must check carefully, otherwise there will be mistakes.
天气很冷，快穿大衣，否则会着凉。
tiān qì hěn lěng， kuài chuān dà yī， fǒu zé huì zháo liáng。
The weather is very cold, so wear a coat, otherwise you will catch a chill.
先把作业写完，否则晚上会很忙。
xiān bǎ zuò yè xiě wán， fǒu zé wǎn shàng huì hěn máng。
Finish your homework first, otherwise you will be very busy at night.
我听懂了，否则就要再问一次。
wǒ tīng dǒng le， fǒu zé jiù yào zài wèn yí cì。
I understood it, otherwise I would have to ask again.
Mini dialogue
记得带伞
A
外面可能要下雨了，你最好带一把伞，否则会淋湿的。
Wàimiàn kěnéng yào xià yǔ le, nǐ zuìhǎo dài yī bǎ sǎn, fǒuzé huì lín shī de.
It might rain outside. You'd better take an umbrella, otherwise you'll get wet.
B
好的，谢谢提醒！
Hǎo de, xièxiè tíxǐng!
Okay, thanks for the reminder!
早点睡觉
A
你应该早点睡觉，否则明天早上会起不来。
Nǐ yīnggāi zǎodiǎn shuìjiào, fǒuzé míngtiān zǎoshang huì qǐ bù lái.
You should go to bed early, otherwise you won't be able to get up tomorrow morning.
B
我知道了，马上就睡。
Wǒ zhīdào le, mǎshàng jiù shuì.
I understand. I'll go to sleep right away.
Related words and contrasts
similar
不然
bùrán
otherwise, or else
Used in the same way to show what will happen if not.
contrast
如果这样
rúguǒ zhèyàng
if so
否则 means 'if not'; 如果这样 means 'if so'.