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

The structure of this grammar point is pretty simple. The noun before "少不了" is sort of the "main" noun and the second noun is the one that tags along as a result.

Noun 1 + 少不了 + Noun 2

Examples

• 过年 总 少不了 大鱼大肉。There's always a big meal when we celebrate the New Year.
• 他 喜欢 吃醋，每 顿饭 总 少不了 一碗醋。He likes to eat vinegar, there's a bowl of vinegar at every meal.
• 学中文 少不了 要 学 拼音 和 声调。Studying Chinese always involves studying pinyin and tones.
• 从 中国 回去，一定 少不了 要 带 点 中国 特产 送给 朋友。When you return from China, you will definitely have to bring back some distinctly Chinese products to give to your friends.
• 他 很 喜欢 吃，每次 别人 请客 都 少不了 他。He really likes to eat. Every time some one else is paying, he's always there.

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 "又".

Structure

Situation 1 + 少不了 + (又) + Situation 2

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

Examples

• 这里这么多垃圾！少不了又是那个讨厌的女人干的。There's so much garbage here! It must have something to do with those disgusting women.
• 八点多了还没回来，少不了又在加班。It's past 8 o'clock he still hasn't come back. He must be working overtime.
• 看他的样子，少不了又跟女朋友吵架了。Look at how he looks. He must have argued with his girlfriend.
• 这么闷热，少不了要下暴雨了。It's so stuffy. It must be about to storm.
• 今年少不了是个丰收年。There's going to be a bumper crop this year.

Sources and Further Reading

Websites

HSK4