Expressing "once...then..." with "yidan...jiu..."
-
Level
-
Similar to
-
Used for
-
Keywords
一旦 (yīdàn) is used to express what would happen after a certain condition is met. Usually it is used with 就. This grammar pattern expresses that "once" one thing happens, "then" something else will happen.
Structure
This structure is similar to the English "once... then," as in "once I get my hands on you, you'll wish you'd never been born."
一旦 + Condition，Subj. + 就 + Consequence
Examples
- 一旦 发生 事故，你 要 负责！In case of an accident, you're responsible!
- 有些 人 一旦 有 了 钱，就 变了。Some people change as soon as they have money.
- 一旦 你 的 公司 上市，你 就 可以 变成 有钱人。Once your company goes public, you'll be a rich man.
- 这 张 桌子 不 稳定，一旦 发生 什么 小小的 振动，就 会 倒塌。This table isn't very stable. If there's even a small vibration, it will fall over.
- 学习 计算机 科学 的 学生 很 自信，他们 一旦 毕业，就 会 找到 很 好 的 工作。Computer science students are very confident. Once they graduate, they will be able to find good jobs.
- 千万 不 要 在 经济 泡沫 中 炒股，一旦 市场 崩溃，你 会 很 后悔 的！You absolutely must not trade stocks in an economic bubble. Once the market collapses, you will regret it!
- 一旦 做出 决定，就 没有 借口，只有 认真 去 做。Once a decision is made, there are no more excuses, and all you can do is take it seriously and do it.
- 人 一旦 在 一个 很 舒服 的 环境 中，就 不想 继续 努力 了。Once you're in a comfortable environment, you don't want to keep trying.
- 一旦 提高 价格，你 会 失去 很多 客户的。If you raise your prices, you will lose a lot of customers.
- 这种 病 很 复杂，一旦 染上，很 难 治好。This disease is very complicated and once you've contracted it, it's hard to cure.
Notice that in a few of the examples there is no 就. Sometimes you can leave out the 就 and the context that the result will happen is pretty clear.
