再不…就【zài bù … jiù】

if not now, last chance, any longer, or else, warning, zai bu jiu

A warning that time is running out: if you don't do it now, the bad result follows. 。 is "if we don't leave now, we'll be late".

HSK 5

AI-generated

Structure

（[subject]）+ 再不 + [verb phrase]，（[subject]）+ 就 + [verb phrase] + 了

Description

再不 + verb says the thing still hasn't happened and can't wait any longer. 就 introduces what will happen if it keeps not happening, and the sentence usually ends in 了.

。

If we don't leave now, we'll be late.

，。

Eat now or the food will get cold.

The subjects can differ: the first clause is the person who needs to act, the second is whatever happens.

，。

If you don't come soon, we won't wait for you.

。

If these flowers don't get watered soon, they'll die.

再不 or 如果不

如果不 states a condition and nothing more. 再不 adds that it's already late. Use it when someone has been putting something off.

，。

If you don't revise, you won't do well in the exam.

，。

If you don't start revising now, it'll be too late for the exam.

再不 and 不再

The order of 再 and 不 decides the meaning. 不再 means "no longer, not any more" and states a fact; it isn't a warning.

。

He doesn't smoke any more.

× 不再走就迟到了 → 再不走就迟到了

再也不, "never again", and 再不…也, "even so", are different patterns again.

Examples

。

If we don't leave now, we'll be late.

，。

If you don't get up now, you'll miss the train.

，。

Eat now or the food will get cold.

，。

If you don't come soon, we won't wait for you.

，。

If you don't start revising now, it'll be too late for the exam.

。

If these flowers don't get watered soon, they'll die.

，。

If we don't buy tickets now, there won't be any seats left.

，。

If you don't tell the truth now, I'm going to get angry.

，。

If we don't set off now, it'll be dark.

，。

If you don't get in touch with him soon, he'll forget you.

。

If you don't make an effort now, it'll be too late.

，。

If it doesn't rain soon, the crops will die.

References

Expressing a last chance with "zaibu... jiu..."resources.allsetlearning.com

再三

再…不过了