Difference between revisions of "Expressing "can't do without" with "shaobuliao""

 
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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
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.
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In the phrase 少不了 (shǎobuliǎo), the word 少 represents "being without." So 少不了 means "can't be without" or "can't do without." It is quite colloquial in usage.
  
 
==Structure==
 
==Structure==
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 少不了 + 要 + Verb Phrase
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Subj. + 少不了 + Noun / Verb Phrase
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
*学 中文 <em>少不了</em> 要 学 拼音 汉字 。<span class="pinyin">Xué Zhōngwén <em>shàobuliǎo</em> yào xué pīnyīn hànzì.</span><span class="trans">Studying Chinese always involves studying pinyin and Chinese characters.</span>
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*每年 春节,<em>少不了</em> 饺子 春晚 。<span class="pinyin">Měi nián Chūnjié, <em>shǎobuliǎo</em> jiǎozi Chūnwǎn.</span><span class="trans">Every Chinese New Year, it's gotta be dumplings and the Spring Festival Gala.</span>
*回家 过年  <em>少不了</em> 要 带 点 礼物 给 家人 。<span class="pinyin">Huí ji guònián <em>shàobuliǎo</em> yào dài diǎn lǐwù gěi jiārén.</span><span class="trans">When you return home for CNY, you will definitely have to bring back some presents to give to your family.</span>
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*如果 回家 晚 了,<em>少不了</em> 一 顿 骂。<span class="pinyin">Rúguǒ huíjiā wǎn le, <em>shǎobuliǎo</em> yī dùn mà.</span><span class="trans">If I get home late, there's no getting out of getting yelled at.</span>
*过 生日 <em>少不了</em> 吃 生日 蛋糕 。<span class="pinyin">Guò shēngrì <em>shàobuliǎo</em> yào chī shēngrì dàngāo.</span><span class="trans">There are always birthday cakes when we spend birthdays.</span>
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*过 生日 <em>少不了</em> 吃 生日 蛋糕 。<span class="pinyin">Guò shēngrì <em>shǎobuliǎo</em> chī shēngrì dàngāo.</span><span class="trans">On someone's birthday we can't not eat birthday cake.</span>
*大家 都 是 邻居 ,以后 <em>少不了</em> 麻烦 您 。<span class="pinyin">Dàjiā dōu shì línjū, yǐhòu <em>shàobuliǎo</em> yào máfan nín.</span><span class="trans">We're neighbors, so we'll definitely have to trouble you.</span>
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*学 中文 <em>少不了</em> 学 拼音 和 汉字 。<span class="pinyin">Xué Zhōngwén <em>shǎobuliǎo</em> xué pīnyīn hé hànzì.</span><span class="trans">Studying Chinese always involves studying pinyin and Chinese characters.</span>
*他 负责 联系 客户 ,所以 <em>少不了</em> 请 客户 吃饭 。<span class="pinyin">Tā fùzé liánxì kèhù, suǒyǐ <em>shǎobuliǎo</em> yào qǐng kèhù chīfàn.</span><span class="trans">He is responsible for contacting clients, so he invariably treats them to dinner.</span>
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*回家 过年  <em>少不了</em> 带 点 礼物 给 家人 。<span class="pinyin">Huí ji guònián <em>shǎobuliǎo</em> dài diǎn lǐwù gěi jiārén.</span><span class="trans">When you return home for Chinese New Year, you can't fail to bring back some presents for your family.</span>
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*大家 都 是 邻居 ,以后 <em>少不了</em> 麻烦 您 。<span class="pinyin">Dàjiā dōu shì línjū, yǐhòu <em>shǎobuliǎo</em> máfan nín.</span><span class="trans">We're all neighbors, so we'll definitely have to trouble you at some point.</span>
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*他 负责 联系 客户 ,所以 <em>少不了</em> 请 客户 吃饭 。<span class="pinyin">Tā fùzé liánxì kèhù, suǒyǐ <em>shǎobuliǎo</em> qǐng kèhù chīfàn.</span><span class="trans">He is responsible for contacting clients, so he invariably has to treat them to dinner.</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
==Relating Events==
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==Pointing to a Cause with 少不了==
  
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.
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Sometimes the two things that 少不了 connects can be events, saying "It's like A because B happened." This construction is often based on 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===
 
===Structure===
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</div>
 
</div>
  
Note, however, that in this construction, the reason ''follows'' "少不了"
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Note, however, that in this construction, the reason ''follows'' 少不了.
  
 
===Examples===
 
===Examples===
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
*八点 多 了 还 没 回 来,<em>少不了</em> 是 在 加班。<span class="pinyin">Bā diǎn duō le hái méi huílái, <em>shàobuliǎo</em> shì zài jiābān.</span><span class="trans">It's past 8 o'clock he still hasn't come back. He must be working overtime.</span>
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*看 他 的 样子,<em>少不了</em> 是 跟 女 朋友 吵架 了。<span class="pinyin">Kàn tā de yàngzi, <em>shǎobuliǎo</em> shì gēn nǚpéngyǒu chǎojià le.</span><span class="trans">Look at him. He must have argued with his girlfriend.</span>
*看 他 的 样子,<em>少不了</em> 是 跟 女 朋友 吵架 了。<span class="pinyin">Kàn tā de yàngzi, <em>shàobuliǎo</em> shì gēn nǚ péngyǒu chǎojià le.</span><span class="trans">Look at how he looks. He must have argued with his girlfriend.</span>
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*这么 闷热 ,<em>少不了</em> 是 要 下 暴雨 。<span class="pinyin">Zhème mēnrè, <em>shǎobuliǎo</em> shì yào xià bàoyǔ.</span><span class="trans">It's so stuffy. It must be about to storm.</span>
*这么 闷热,<em>少不了</em> 是 要 下 暴雨 。<span class="pinyin">Zhème mēn rè, <em>shàobuliǎo</em> shì yào xià bàoyǔ.</span><span class="trans">It's so stuffy. It must be about to storm.</span>
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*八点 多 了 还 没 回 来,<em>少不了</em> 是 在 加班 。<span class="pinyin">Bā diǎn duō le hái méi huílái, <em>shǎobuliǎo</em> shì zài jiābān.</span><span class="trans">It's past 8 o'clock he still hasn't come back. He must be working overtime.</span>
*每年 春节,<em>少不了</em> 是 饺子 春晚 。<span class="pinyin">Měinián Chūnjié, <em>shǎobuliǎo</em> shì jiǎozi chūn wǎn.</span><span class="trans">Every year, it's always dumplings and Spring Festival dinners.</span>
 
*如果 回家 晚 了,<em>少不了</em> 是 一 顿 骂。<span class="pinyin">Rúguǒ huíjiā wǎn le, <em>shǎobuliǎo</em> shì yī dùn mà.</span><span class="trans">If you come home late, you will be scolded.</span>
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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===Books===
 
===Books===
 
{{Source|卓越汉语-公司实战篇|83}}
 
{{Source|卓越汉语-公司实战篇|83}}
 
===Websites===
 
  
 
[[Category:B2 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B2 grammar points]]
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{{Used for|Indicating cause and effect}}
 
{{Used for|Indicating cause and effect}}
 
{{Used for|Referring to simultaneous events}}
 
{{Used for|Referring to simultaneous events}}
{{Basic Grammar|少不了|B2|Subj. + 少不了 + 要 + Verb Phrase
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{{Basic Grammar|少不了|B2|Subj. + 少不了 + Noun / Verb Phrase|春节 <em>少不了</em> 吃 饺子。|grammar point|ASG3IR71}}
|春节 <em>少不了</em> 吃 饺子。|grammar point|ASG3IR71}}
 
 
{{Rel char|少}}
 
{{Rel char|少}}
 
{{Rel char|不了}}
 
{{Rel char|不了}}
 
{{Rel char|了}}
 
{{Rel char|了}}
 
{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}}
 
{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}}

Latest revision as of 07:45, 14 January 2021

In the phrase 少不了 (shǎobuliǎo), the word 少 represents "being without." So 少不了 means "can't be without" or "can't do without." It is quite colloquial in usage.

Structure

Subj. + 少不了 + Noun / Verb Phrase

Examples

  • 每年 春节,少不了 饺子 和 春晚 。Měi nián Chūnjié, shǎobuliǎo jiǎozi hé Chūnwǎn.Every Chinese New Year, it's gotta be dumplings and the Spring Festival Gala.
  • 如果 回家 晚 了,少不了 一 顿 骂。Rúguǒ huíjiā wǎn le, shǎobuliǎo yī dùn mà.If I get home late, there's no getting out of getting yelled at.
  • 过 生日 少不了 吃 生日 蛋糕 。Guò shēngrì shǎobuliǎo chī shēngrì dàngāo.On someone's birthday we can't not eat birthday cake.
  • 学 中文 少不了 学 拼音 和 汉字 。Xué Zhōngwén shǎobuliǎo 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 shǎobuliǎo dài diǎn lǐwù gěi jiārén.When you return home for Chinese New Year, you can't fail to bring back some presents for your family.
  • 大家 都 是 邻居 ,以后 少不了 麻烦 您 。Dàjiā dōu shì línjū, yǐhòu shǎobuliǎo máfan nín.We're all neighbors, so we'll definitely have to trouble you at some point.
  • 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 has to treat them to dinner.

Pointing to a Cause with 少不了

Sometimes the two things that 少不了 connects can be events, saying "It's like A because B happened." This construction is often based on 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

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

Sources and Further Reading

Books

HSK5