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How to Say ‘Then how about you be my teacher?’ in Simplified Chinese

那要不你当我老师？

nà yào bù nǐ dāng wǒ lǎo shī

[nà yàobù nee dāng waw lao-shuh]

💬 Usage Tip: 要不 (yào bù) at the start floats a casual suggestion, like "how about…": 要不我们走吧？ "how about we go?"

Phrase Breakdown

那要不

nà yào bù

then how about

要不 means 'how about' or 'why don't'. It introduces a suggestion. 那 means 'then'.

Example

那要不我们走吧？

Then how about we leave?

Words in this phrase

那

nà

[nà]

then

Used to connect the result of an action or thought.

Example

如果你这么说，那我就相信你。

If you say so, then I believe you.

要不

yào bù

[yàobù]

how about; otherwise

Introduces a suggestion or alternative solution.

Example

要不我们打车吧。

How about we take a taxi?

你当我老师？

nǐ dāng wǒ lǎo shī

you be my teacher?

当 means 'to act as'. 你当我老师 means 'you be my teacher'.

Example

你当我老师好不好？

Will you be my teacher?

Words in this phrase

你

nǐ

[nee]

you

The informal or neutral word for “you,” suitable for peers or casual conversation.

Example

如果对方和你年纪差不多，可以说“认识你”。

If the other person is about your age, you can say “nice to meet you” with 你.

当

dāng

[dāng]

to act as; to be

To serve in a role or position.

Example

他想当医生。

He wants to be a doctor.

我

wǒ

[waw]

First person pronoun used as the object, referring to the speaker.

Example

这个发展机会很适合我。

This development opportunity suits me very well.

老师

lǎo shī

[lao-shuh]

teacher

A person who teaches students.

Example

这个老师教得很好。

This teacher teaches very well.

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