否则
fǒuzé · HSK 4
otherwise
⚠️ 否 (not/no) + 则 (then/rule) = if not, then... = otherwise
否 means 'no/not' and 则 means 'then' or 'in that case'. Together: 'if not, then...' which is exactly 'otherwise' in English. Common in warnings: do X, 否则 (or else) Y will happen.
则 — knife 刂 + shell/money 貝 (simplified to 贝)
则 originally showed a knife (刂) beside a tripod cauldron (鼎), later simplified to 贝. It depicted inscribing laws or rules onto bronze vessels with a knife. From this came the meanings 'rule, standard, regulation,' and by extension the conjunction 'then' indicating a logical consequence.