Expressing "unless" with "chufei"

除非 (chúfēi) can be used as a conjunction, and means "unless." 否则 (fǒuzé) or 不然 (bùrán) often appear in the following phrase, to form a construction meaning "unless x, otherwise y":

Simple Pattern with Only 除非

The simplified construction more directly maps to the basic English usage of "unless," as in, "I won't do it unless you pay me."

Structure

除非 means "unless" in the following "y , 除非 x" pattern. The sentences below place emphasis on the part after 除非.

Result / Fact ，除非 + Condition

Examples

• 我 不 去 ，除非 你 也 去 。I won't go unless you go.
• 你 不能 进 ，除非 你 有 预约 。You can't come in unless you have an appointment.
• 我 不 说 ，除非 你 答应 我 不会 生气 。I won't tell you unless you promise me you won't be upset.
• 你 不 会 这么 快 升职 ，除非 你 表现 很 好 。You won't get promoted so soon unless you perform very well.
• 我们 公司 一般 不 允许 员工 请假 ，除非 理由 很 充分 。The company won't allow it's staff time off unless their reason is good enough.

Simple Pattern with Only 要不然

This simplified construction using 要不然 (or 不然) more directly maps to the basic English usage of "otherwise," as in: "Pay me. Otherwise, I won't do it."

Structure

要不然 (or 不然) means "otherwise" in the following "x , 要不然 y" pattern.

Condition, (要) 不然 + Result

Examples

• 你 也 去， 要不然 我 不 去 。I won't go unless you go.

Advanced Construction

In the full construction, 除非 comes first, and the meaning is "Unless x, otherwise y."

Structure

除非 + Condition ，否则 / 不然 + Result / Fact

Examples

• 除非 你 是 会员 ，否则 不能 进去 。Unless you have the membership, yo can't come in.
• 除非 有 奇迹 ，不然 他 的 病 治 不好 。Unless miracle happens, his disease can't be cured.
• 除非 你 听 我 的 ，否则 我 不 会 帮 你 。Unless you listen to me, I won't help you.
• 除非 你 有 证据 ，不然 谁 会 相信 ？Unless you have proof, who is going to believe it?
• 除非 你 是 名牌 大学 毕业 的 ，否则 老板 不会 考虑 你 的 。The boss won't consider you unless you graduate from a brand-name university university.

Used with 才

除非 is also used in the patterns below. The meaning expressed is the same as the sentences above, but below the "Y" part expresses what won't happen unless the 除非 condition is met. It might be more helpful to think of 除非 here as meaning "only if."

Structure

除非 x，才 y

So that's "Only if x, y."

Examples

• 除非 我们 买 很 多 ，老板 才 能 给 我们 便宜 点 。Only if we buy a lot, the shop owner can make it less expensive.
• 除非 旧 的 坏了 ，我 才 会 买 新的 。Only if the old one is broken, I will buy a new one.
• 除非 有 很好 的 工作 机会 ，他 才 回 老家 。Only if there is a very good job opportunity, he will go back to my hometown.
• 除非 老板 给 我 加薪 ，我 才 会 留下来 。Only if the boss gives me a pay raise, I will stay.
• 除非 他 犯 了 很 大 的 错 ，老板 才 会 炒 他 的 鱿鱼 。Only if he makes a very big mistake, his boss will fire him.

See also

• Expressing "even if…" with "jishi"
• Expressing "otherwise" with "yaobu"

Sources and Further Reading

• Common Chinese Patterns 330 (汉语常用格式330例) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy