Chinese Grammar Bank
HOW TO USE 再不…就…
The phrase 再不…就… (zàibu… jiù…) is used to indicate urgency, implying that if something is not done soon, there will be a negative consequence.
It translates to If you don’t do [something] soon, [consequence] will happen.
SENTENCE STRUCTURE
- 再 (zài) means again or further. Here, it emphasises continuation or delay.
- 不 (bù) is the negation, meaning not.
- 就 (jiù) indicates the result or consequence.
Together, 再不…就… implies If [you] don’t do it now, then…
Rules
- Often used in informal or spoken language.
- The action after 再不 is what needs to be done urgently.
- The clause after 就 describes the negative consequence.
再不写作业，就要挨批评了。
If you don’t do your homework now, you’ll be scolded.View More Examples:
| 再不出门，就要迟到了。 | Zài bù chūmén, jiù yào chídào le. | If you don’t leave now, you’ll be late. |
| 再不吃饭，菜都凉了。 | Zài bù chīfàn, cài dōu liáng le. | If you don’t eat now, the food will get cold. |
| 再不快点儿，火车就走了。 | Zài bù kuài diǎnr, huǒchē jiù zǒu le. | If you don’t hurry up, the train will leave. |
| 再不下雨，庄稼就要干死了。 | Zài bù xiàyǔ, zhuāngjià jiù yào gān sǐ le. | If it doesn’t rain soon, the crops will die. |
| 再不休息，你会生病的。 | Zài bù xiūxí, nǐ huì shēngbìng de. | If you don’t rest soon, you’ll get sick. |
| 再不睡觉，明天起不来了。 | Zài bù shuìjiào, míngtiān qǐ bù lái le. | If you don’t sleep now, you won’t get up tomorrow. |
| 再不交房租，就会被赶出去了。 | Zài bù jiāo fángzū, jiù huì bèi gǎn chūqù le. | If you don’t pay the rent soon, you’ll be evicted. |
Notice that in some cases, the subject is omitted and we can use 再不…就… without subjects.
For example, the sentence 再不写作业，就要挨批评了。is translated to If you don’t do your homework now, you’ll be scolded. But in the Chinese sentence, you (你）is omitted. This is the case when the subject is clear in the context.
VARIATIONS IN TONES
The phrase 再不…就… can convey urgency in different ways depending on how it’s used and the speaker’s intent.
The tone can range from warnings to reminders, and sometimes it might even carry a sense of playfulness. Here’s how these tones can vary:
Warnings
Used when there are significant or irreversible consequences if no action is taken.
再不吃药，你的病会更严重。
If you don’t take your medicine, your illness will worsen.The tone here emphasizes the importance of taking action immediately.
Reminders
Used to nudge someone to act without pressuring them too much.
再不走，电影开场了。
If we don’t leave now, the movie will start.Playful or humorous tone
Occasionally, this structure is used in a lighthearted way, often among friends or family.
In the following example, the tone here is teasing and fun, not truly critical:
再不睡觉，你就是个“熊猫”了！
If you don’t sleep soon, you’ll turn into a panda!View More Examples:
| 再不快点，火车就走了。 | Zài bù kuài diǎnr, huǒchē jiù zǒu le. | If you don’t hurry up, the train will leave. |
| 再不买票，演唱会就没座位了。 | Zài bù mǎi piào, yǎnchànghuì jiù méi zuòwèi le. | If you don’t buy tickets, there’ll be no seats left for the concert. |
| 再不睡觉，你就是个“熊猫”了！ | Zài bù shuìjiào, nǐ jiù shì gè “xióngmāo” le! | If you don’t sleep soon, you’ll turn into a panda! |
| 再不学习，考试肯定过不了。 | Zài bù xuéxí, kǎoshì kěndìng guò bù liǎo. | If you don’t study, you definitely won’t pass the exam. |
| 再不去健身房，你的会员就浪费了。 | Zài bù qù jiànshēnfáng, nǐ de huìyuán jiù làngfèi le. | If you don’t go to the gym, your membership will be wasted. |
| 再不吃饭，我就吃完了！ | Zài bù chīfàn, wǒ jiù chī wán le! | If you don’t eat, I’ll finish it all! |
COMMON SCENARIOS
Here are some common situations where 再不…就… is frequently used:
- Urgency in daily tasks (e.g., eating, working).
- Warning about natural consequences (e.g., health, weather).
- Reminding others to take action.
再不出发，天就黑了。
If we don’t leave now, it’ll get dark.View More Examples:
| 再不做决定，就错过机会了。 | Zài bù zuò juédìng, jiù cuòguò jīhuì le. | If you don’t decide now, you’ll miss the opportunity. |
| 再不整理，房间就乱成一团了。 | Zài bù zhěnglǐ, fángjiān jiù luàn chéng yī tuán le. | If you don’t tidy up, the room will be a mess. |
| 再不努力，升职就没希望了。 | Zài bù nǔlì, shēngzhí jiù méi xīwàng le. | If you don’t work harder, there’s no hope for promotion. |
| 再不打电话，店就关门了。 | Zài bù dǎ diànhuà, diàn jiù guānmén le. | If you don’t call now, the shop will close. |
| 再不买菜，超市就没货了。 | Zài bù mǎi cài, chāoshì jiù méi huò le. | If you don’t buy groceries now, the store will run out. |
| 再不修车，车就开不了了。 | Zài bù xiū chē, chē jiù kāi bù liǎo le. | If you don’t fix the car, it won’t run. |
| 再不说清楚，别人会误会的。 | Zài bù shuō qīngchǔ, biérén huì wùhuì de. | If you don’t explain clearly, others will misunderstand. |
SENTENCE VARIATIONS
This chapter explores different sentence patterns, such as adding time expressions, using past tense, and varying tones.
- 再不…就… can describe situations in the past, present, or future.
- 再不…就… can be used with subjects or without subjects. When the subjects are omitted, it is often because the subject is clear in the context.
今天再不寄信，明天就来不及了。
If you don’t send the letter today, it’ll be too late tomorrow.View More Examples:
| 小孩再不睡觉，明天早上就起不来了。 | Xiǎohái zài bù shuìjiào, míngtiān zǎoshang jiù qǐ bù lái le. | If the child doesn’t sleep now, they won’t wake up in time tomorrow morning. |
| 你再不买礼物，他的生日就过完了。 | Nǐ zài bù mǎi lǐwù, tā de shēngrì jiù guò wán le. | If you don’t buy a gift soon, his birthday will be over. |
| 再不解释，他就真的误会了。 | Zài bù jiěshì, tā jiù zhēn de wùhuì le. | If you don’t explain now, he’ll truly misunderstand. |
| 我们再不休息，就累坏了。 | Wǒmen zài bù xiūxí, jiù lèi huài le. | If we don’t rest soon, we’ll be exhausted. |
| 再不学法语，你就赶不上同事了。 | Zài bù xué fǎyǔ, nǐ jiù gǎn bù shàng tóngshì le. | If you don’t study French now, you’ll fall behind your colleagues. |
| 再不去，超市就关门了。 | Zài bù qù, chāoshì jiù guānmén le. | If you don’t go soon, the supermarket will close. |
| 他再不道歉，事情就更麻烦了。 | Tā zài bù dàoqiàn, shìqíng jiù gèng máfan le. | If he doesn’t apologise, the situation will get worse. |
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FAQs
What does 再不…就… mean in Chinese?
It means “if (you) don’t do something now, then (a consequence) will happen,” often expressing urgency or a last chance to take action.
Can 再不…就… be used in formal writing?
It is mainly used in spoken Chinese and informal writing.
For formal writing, other structures like 否则 (fǒuzé, otherwise) or 否则的话 are more appropriate.
Is 再不…就… always negative?
While often used for warnings or consequences, it can also be neutral, depending on the context.
Can 再不 be replaced with 还不?
还不…就… is sometimes interchangeable, but 还不 focuses more on impatience, while 再不 emphasizes urgency or a last warning.
When to use 再不…就…or 要不然?
要不然 is more general and can introduce alternatives, while 再不…就… strictly emphasizes a last opportunity before something happens.
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