Expressing "once...then..." with "yidan...jiu..."

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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, something else will happen.

Structure

This structure is similar to the English "once...then", as in "once the company goes bankrupt, your family will lose all its money."

一旦 + certain condition, Subject + 就 + consequence

Examples

  • 一旦 我 找 好 的 工作,我 会 安心。
  • 这 张 桌子 不 稳定,一旦 发生 什么 小 小 的 振动, 会 倒塌。
  • 学习 计算机 科学 的 学生 很 自信,他们 一旦 毕业, 会 找 到 很 好 的 工作。
  • 千万 不 要 在 经济 泡沫 中 炒股,一旦 市场 崩溃,你 会 很 后悔 的!

Notice in the last example there is no 就. Sometimes you can leave out the 就 is the context that the result will happen is pretty clear.

Sources and further reading

Books

HSK5