Difference between revisions of "Expressing "unless" with "chufei""

 
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除非 (chúfēi) can be used as a conjunction and means "unless." 否则 (fǒuzé) or 要不然 (yàobùrán) often appear in the following phrase, to form a construction meaning "''unless'' x, ''otherwise'' y":
  
除非 (chúfēi) can be used as a conjunction, and means "unless." 否则 (fǒuzé) or 要不然 (yàobùrán) often appear in the following phrase, to form a construction meaning "''unless'' x, ''otherwise'' y":
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== Pattern with 除非 ==
 
 
== Patter with 除非 ==
 
  
 
The simplified construction more directly maps to the basic English usage of "unless," as in, "I won't do it ''unless'' you pay me."
 
The simplified construction more directly maps to the basic English usage of "unless," as in, "I won't do it ''unless'' you pay me."
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
 
除非 means "unless" in the following "y , 除非 x" pattern.  The sentences below place emphasis on the part after 除非.
 
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
Result / Fact ,除非 + Condition
 
Result / Fact ,除非 + Condition
 
</div>
 
</div>
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 +
The sentences below place emphasis on the part after 除非.
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
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*我 不 去 ,<em>除非</em> 你 也 去 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ bù qù, <em>chúfēi</em> nǐ yě qù.</span><span class="trans">I won't go unless you go too.</span>
*我 不 去 ,<em>除非</em> 你 也 去 。<span class="trans">I won't go unless you go.</span>
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*你 不能 进 ,<em>除非</em> 你 有 预约 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ bù néng jìn, <em>chúfēi</em> nǐ yǒu yùyuē.</span><span class="trans">You can't come in unless you have an appointment.</span>
*你 不能 进 ,<em>除非</em> 你 有 预约 。<span class="trans">You can't come in unless you have an appointment.</span>
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*我 不 说 ,<em>除非</em> 你 答应 我 不会 生气 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ bù shuō, <em>chúfēi</em> nǐ dāyìng wǒ nǐ bù huì shēngqì.</span><span class="trans">I won't tell you unless you promise me you won't get upset.</span>
*我 不 说 ,<em>除非</em> 你 答应 我 不会 生气 。<span class="trans">I won't tell you unless you promise me you won't be upset.</span>
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*你 不 会 这么 快 升职 ,<em>除非</em> 你 表现 很 好 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ bù huì zhème kuài shēngzhí, <em>chúfēi</em> nǐ biǎoxiàn hěn hǎo.</span><span class="trans">You won't get promoted so soon unless you perform very well.</span>
*你 不 会 这么 快 升职 ,<em>除非</em> 你 表现 很 好 。<span class="trans">You won't get promoted so soon unless you perform very well.</span>
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*我们 公司 一般 不 允许 员工 请假 ,<em>除非</em> 理由 很 充分 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen gōngsī yībān bù yǔnxǔ yuángōng qǐngjià, <em>chúfēi</em> lǐyóu hěn chōngfèn.</span><span class="trans">The company won't allow its staff time off unless they have a really good reason.</span>
*我们 公司 一般 不 允许 员工 请假 ,<em>除非</em> 理由 很 充分 。<span class="trans">The company won't allow it's staff time off unless their reason is good enough.</span>
 
 
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Pattern with 要不然 ==
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== Pattern with Just 要不然 ==
  
 
This simplified construction using 要不然 (or 不然) more directly maps to the basic English usage of "otherwise," as in: "Pay me. Otherwise, I won't do it."
 
This simplified construction using 要不然 (or 不然) more directly maps to the basic English usage of "otherwise," as in: "Pay me. Otherwise, I won't do it."
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
 
要不然 (or 不然) means "otherwise" in the following "x , 要不然 y" pattern.
 
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
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* 你 也 去,<em>要不然</em> 我 不 去 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ yě qù, <em>yàobùrán</em> wǒ bù qù.</span><span class="trans">You go too. Otherwise, I won't go.</span>
* 你 也 去,<em>要不然</em> 我 不 去 。<span class="trans">I won't go unless you go.</span>
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* 马上 帮 我 叫车 ,<em>要不然</em> 我 赶不上 飞机 。<span class="pinyin">Mǎshàng bāng wǒ jiào chē, <em>yàobùrán</em> wǒ gǎnbushàng fēijī.</span><span class="trans">I won't catch my flight unless you call a cab for me right now.</span>
* 马上 帮 我 叫车 ,<em>要不然</em> 我 赶不上 飞机 。<span class="trans">I won't catch up my flight unless you call a cab for me right now.</span>
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* 老师 ,您 要 给 我们 一点 提示 ,<em>要不然</em> 谁 都 想不出 答案 。<span class="pinyin">Lǎoshī, nín yào gěi wǒmen yīdiǎn tíshì, <em>yàobùrán</em> shéi dōu xiǎng bù chū dá'àn.</span><span class="trans">Teacher, we need you to give us a little hint. Otherwise, none of us will be able to figure out the answer.</span>
* 老师 ,您 要 给我们 一点 提示 ,<em>要不然</em> 谁 都 想不出 答案 。<span class="trans">Teacher, we need you to give us a little hint. Otherwise, none of us will figure out the answer.</span>
 
 
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Advanced Pattern ==
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== Full Pattern with 除非 and 否则 / 不然 ==
  
 
In the full construction, 除非 comes first, and the meaning is "''Unless'' x, ''otherwise'' y."
 
In the full construction, 除非 comes first, and the meaning is "''Unless'' x, ''otherwise'' y."
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<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
除非 + Condition ,否则 / 不然 + Result / Fact
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除非 + Condition ,[否则 / 不然] + [Result / Fact]
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
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*<em>除非</em> 你 是 会员 ,<em>否则</em> 不能 进去 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Chúfēi</em> nǐ shì huìyuán, <em>fǒuzé</em> bù néng jìnqù.</span><span class="trans">Unless you have a membership, you can't come in.</span>
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*<em>除非</em> 有 奇迹 ,<em>不然</em> 他 的 病 治 不好 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Chúfēi</em> yǒu qíjī, <em>bùrán</em> tā de bìng zhì bù hǎo.</span><span class="trans">Unless a miracle happens, his disease can't be cured.</span>
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*<em>除非</em> 你 听 我 的 ,<em>否则</em> 我 不 会 帮 你 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Chúfēi</em> nǐ tīng wǒ de, <em>fǒuzé</em> wǒ bù huì bāng nǐ.</span><span class="trans">Unless you listen to me, I won't help you.</span>
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*<em>除非</em> 你 有 证据 ,<em>不然</em> 谁 会 相信 ?<span class="pinyin"><em>Chúfēi</em> nǐ yǒu zhèngjù, <em>bùrán</em> shéi huì xiāngxìn?</span><span class="trans">Unless you have proof, who is going to believe it?</span>
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*<em>除非</em> 你 是 名牌 大学 毕业 的 ,<em>否则</em> 老板 不会 考虑 你 的 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Chúfēi</em> nǐ shì míngpái dàxué bìyè de, <em>fǒuzé</em> lǎobǎn bù huì kǎolǜ nǐ de.</span><span class="trans">The boss won't consider you unless you graduated from a big name university.</span>
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</div>
  
*<em>除非</em> 你 是 会员 ,<em>否则</em> 不能 进去 。<span class="trans">Unless you have the membership, yo can't come in.</span>
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== Reverse Pattern with 除非 and 才 ==
*<em>除非</em> 有 奇迹 ,<em>不然</em> 他 的 病 治 不好 。<span class="trans">Unless miracle happens, his disease can't be cured.</span>
 
*<em>除非</em> 你 听 我 的 ,<em>否则</em> 我 不 会 帮 你 。<span class="trans">Unless you listen to me, I won't help you.</span>
 
*<em>除非</em> 你 有 证据 ,<em>不然</em> 谁 会 相信 ?<span class="trans">Unless you have proof, who is going to believe it?</span>
 
*<em>除非</em> 你 是 名牌 大学 毕业 的 ,<em>否则</em> 老板 不会 考虑 你 的 。<span class="trans">The boss won't consider you unless you graduate from a brand-name university university.</span>
 
 
 
</div>
 
  
除非 is also used in the patterns below.  The meaning expressed is the same as the sentences above, but below the "Y" part expresses what '''won't''' happen ''unless'' the 除非 condition is met. It might be more helpful to think of 除非 here as meaning "only if." The structure is:
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除非 is also used in the patterns below.  The meaning expressed is the same as the sentences above, but below the "Y" part expresses what '''won't''' happen ''unless'' the 除非 condition is met. It might be more helpful to think of 除非 here as meaning "only if."
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 +
*<em>除非</em> 你们 买 很 多 ,<em>才</em> 能 便宜 点 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Chúfēi</em> nǐmen mǎi hěn duō, <em>cái</em> néng piányí diǎn.</span><span class="trans">Only if you buy a lot can I give you a cheaper price.</span>
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*<em>除非</em> 旧 的 坏 了 ,我 <em>才</em> 会 买 新的 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Chúfēi</em> jiù de huài le, wǒ <em>cái</em> huì mǎi xīn de.</span><span class="trans">Only if the old one is broken will I buy a new one.</span>
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*<em>除非</em> 老板 给 我 加薪 ,我 <em>才</em> 会 留下来 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Chúfēi</em> lǎobǎn gěi wǒ jiā xīn, wǒ <em>cái</em> huì liú xiàlái.</span><span class="trans">Only if the boss gives me a pay raise will I stay.</span>
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</div>
  
*<em>除非</em> 你们 买 很 多 ,<em></em> 能 便宜 点 。<span class="trans">Only if you buy a lot, I can make it less expensive.</span>
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This use of is similar to the [[Expressing "only after" with "cai"|"only after" use]].
*<em>除非</em> 旧 的 坏了 ,我 <em>才</em> 会 买 新的 。<span class="trans">Only if  the old one is broken, I will buy a new one.</span>
 
*<em>除非</em> 老板 给 我 加薪 ,我 <em>才</em> 会 留下来 。<span class="trans">Only if the boss gives me a pay raise, I will stay.</span>
 
 
 
</div>
 
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==

Latest revision as of 07:37, 19 January 2021

除非 (chúfēi) can be used as a conjunction and means "unless." 否则 (fǒuzé) or 要不然 (yàobùrán) often appear in the following phrase, to form a construction meaning "unless x, otherwise y":

Pattern with 除非

The simplified construction more directly maps to the basic English usage of "unless," as in, "I won't do it unless you pay me."

Structure

Result / Fact ,除非 + Condition

The sentences below place emphasis on the part after 除非.

Examples

  • 我 不 去 ,除非 你 也 去 。Wǒ bù qù, chúfēi nǐ yě qù.I won't go unless you go too.
  • 你 不能 进 ,除非 你 有 预约 。Nǐ bù néng jìn, chúfēi nǐ yǒu yùyuē.You can't come in unless you have an appointment.
  • 我 不 说 ,除非 你 答应 我 你 不会 生气 。Wǒ bù shuō, chúfēi nǐ dāyìng wǒ nǐ bù huì shēngqì.I won't tell you unless you promise me you won't get upset.
  • 你 不 会 这么 快 升职 ,除非 你 表现 很 好 。Nǐ bù huì zhème kuài shēngzhí, chúfēi nǐ biǎoxiàn hěn hǎo.You won't get promoted so soon unless you perform very well.
  • 我们 公司 一般 不 允许 员工 请假 ,除非 理由 很 充分 。Wǒmen gōngsī yībān bù yǔnxǔ yuángōng qǐngjià, chúfēi lǐyóu hěn chōngfèn.The company won't allow its staff time off unless they have a really good reason.

Pattern with Just 要不然

This simplified construction using 要不然 (or 不然) more directly maps to the basic English usage of "otherwise," as in: "Pay me. Otherwise, I won't do it."

Structure

Condition, (要) 不然 + Result

Examples

  • 你 也 去,要不然 我 不 去 。Nǐ yě qù, yàobùrán wǒ bù qù.You go too. Otherwise, I won't go.
  • 马上 帮 我 叫车 ,要不然 我 赶不上 飞机 。Mǎshàng bāng wǒ jiào chē, yàobùrán wǒ gǎnbushàng fēijī.I won't catch my flight unless you call a cab for me right now.
  • 老师 ,您 要 给 我们 一点 提示 ,要不然 谁 都 想不出 答案 。Lǎoshī, nín yào gěi wǒmen yīdiǎn tíshì, yàobùrán shéi dōu xiǎng bù chū dá'àn.Teacher, we need you to give us a little hint. Otherwise, none of us will be able to figure out the answer.

Full Pattern with 除非 and 否则 / 不然

In the full construction, 除非 comes first, and the meaning is "Unless x, otherwise y."

Structure

除非 + Condition ,[否则 / 不然] + [Result / Fact]

Examples

  • 除非 你 是 会员 ,否则 不能 进去 。Chúfēi nǐ shì huìyuán, fǒuzé bù néng jìnqù.Unless you have a membership, you can't come in.
  • 除非 有 奇迹 ,不然 他 的 病 治 不好 。Chúfēi yǒu qíjī, bùrán tā de bìng zhì bù hǎo.Unless a miracle happens, his disease can't be cured.
  • 除非 你 听 我 的 ,否则 我 不 会 帮 你 。Chúfēi nǐ tīng wǒ de, fǒuzé wǒ bù huì bāng nǐ.Unless you listen to me, I won't help you.
  • 除非 你 有 证据 ,不然 谁 会 相信 ?Chúfēi nǐ yǒu zhèngjù, bùrán shéi huì xiāngxìn?Unless you have proof, who is going to believe it?
  • 除非 你 是 名牌 大学 毕业 的 ,否则 老板 不会 考虑 你 的 。Chúfēi nǐ shì míngpái dàxué bìyè de, fǒuzé lǎobǎn bù huì kǎolǜ nǐ de.The boss won't consider you unless you graduated from a big name university.

Reverse Pattern with 除非 and 才

除非 is also used in the patterns below. The meaning expressed is the same as the sentences above, but below the "Y" part expresses what won't happen unless the 除非 condition is met. It might be more helpful to think of 除非 here as meaning "only if."

除非 x,才 y

So that's "Only if x, y."

A few examples:

  • 除非 你们 买 很 多 , 能 便宜 点 。Chúfēi nǐmen mǎi hěn duō, cái néng piányí diǎn.Only if you buy a lot can I give you a cheaper price.
  • 除非 旧 的 坏 了 ,我 会 买 新的 。Chúfēi jiù de huài le, wǒ cái huì mǎi xīn de.Only if the old one is broken will I buy a new one.
  • 除非 老板 给 我 加薪 ,我 会 留下来 。Chúfēi lǎobǎn gěi wǒ jiā xīn, wǒ cái huì liú xiàlái.Only if the boss gives me a pay raise will I stay.

This use of 才 is similar to the "only after" use.

See also

Sources and Further Reading