Expressing "can't do without" with "shaobuliao"

Sometimes in English, we have "you won't see one without the other." In Chinese, the same sort of idea can be achieved using "少不了" (shǎobuliǎo). It means that if there is one thing, then there is going to be another something along with it.

Structure

Subj. + 少不了 + 要 + Verb Phrase

Examples

• 学 中文 少不了 学 拼音 和 汉字 。Xué Zhōngwén shàobuliǎo xué pīnyīn hé hànzì.Studying Chinese always involves studying pinyin and Chinese characters.
• 回家 过年 少不了 带 点 礼物 给 家人 。Huí ji guònián shàobuliǎo dài diǎn lǐwù gěi jiārén.When you return home for CNY, you will definitely have to bring back some presents to give to your family.
• 过 生日 少不了 吃 生日 蛋糕 。Guò shēngrì shàobuliǎo chī shēngrì dàngāo.There are always birthday cakes when we spend birthdays.
• 大家 都 是 邻居 ，以后 少不了 麻烦 您 。Dàjiā dōu shì línjū, yǐhòu shàobuliǎo máfan nín.We're neighbors, so we'll definitely have to trouble you.
• 他 负责 联系 客户 ，所以 少不了 请 客户 吃饭 。Tā fùzé liánxì kèhù, suǒyǐ shǎobuliǎo qǐng kèhù chīfàn.He is responsible for contacting clients, so he invariably treats them to dinner.
• 每年 春节，少不了 饺子 春晚 。Měinián Chūnjié, shǎobuliǎo jiǎozi chūn wǎn.Every year, it's always dumplings and Spring Festival dinners.
• 如果 回家 晚 了，少不了 一 顿 骂。Rúguǒ huíjiā wǎn le, shǎobuliǎo yī dùn mà.If you come home late, you will be scolded.

Relating Events

Sometimes the two things that 少不了 connects aren't objects. Instead they can be events, and the 少不了 is connecting them saying "It's like A because B happened." This construction is often based off of observations or experiences that the speaker has had, so that they can know (or assume) what situations relate to each other. It is often used together with 是.

Structure

Situation / Result ，少不了 + 是 + Reason

Note, however, that in this construction, the reason follows "少不了"

Examples

• 八点 多 了 还 没 回 来，少不了 是 在 加班。Bā diǎn duō le hái méi huílái, shàobuliǎo shì zài jiābān.It's past 8 o'clock he still hasn't come back. He must be working overtime.
• 看 他 的 样子，少不了 是 跟 女 朋友 吵架 了。Kàn tā de yàngzi, shàobuliǎo shì gēn nǚ péngyǒu chǎojià le.Look at how he looks. He must have argued with his girlfriend.
• 这么 闷热，少不了 是 要 下 暴雨 。Zhème mēn rè, shàobuliǎo shì yào xià bàoyǔ.It's so stuffy. It must be about to storm.

Sources and Further Reading

Books

• 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 (pp. 83) 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 →buy

Websites

HSK5