Difference between revisions of "Expressing "what if" with "wanyi""

Line 70: Line 70:
  
 
* 北京 的 冬天 特别 冷,多 带 几 件 衣服 <em>以防万一</em>。<span class="pinyin"> Běijīng de dōngtiān tèbié lěng, duō dài jǐ jiàn yīfu <em>yǐ fáng wànyī</em>.</span><span class="trans">It's very cold in winter in Beijing. You should bring a few more pieces of clothing. Just in case. </span>
 
* 北京 的 冬天 特别 冷,多 带 几 件 衣服 <em>以防万一</em>。<span class="pinyin"> Běijīng de dōngtiān tèbié lěng, duō dài jǐ jiàn yīfu <em>yǐ fáng wànyī</em>.</span><span class="trans">It's very cold in winter in Beijing. You should bring a few more pieces of clothing. Just in case. </span>
* 这么 晚 出去,最好 找 一个 男生 陪 你 一起,<em>以防万一</em>。<span class="pinyin"> Zhème wǎn chūqù, zuìhǎo zhǎo yī gè nánshēng péi nǐ yīqǐ, <em>yǐ fán gwànyī</em> .</span><span class="trans">You'd better ask a boy to go out with you in such a late night. Just in case.</span>
+
* 这么 晚 出去,最好 找 一个 男生 陪 你 一起,<em>以防万一</em>。<span class="pinyin"> Zhème wǎn chūqù, zuìhǎo zhǎo yī gè nánshēng péi nǐ yīqǐ, <em>yǐ fáng wànyī</em> .</span><span class="trans">You'd better ask a boy to go out with you in such a late night. Just in case.</span>
 
* 这些 可能 不 够,多 买 一点 吧,<em>以防万一</em>。<span class="pinyin"> Zhèxiē kěnéng bù gòu, duō mǎi yīdiǎn ba, <em>yǐ fáng wànyī</em>.</span><span class="trans">These are probably not good enough. We should buy some more. Just in case. </span>
 
* 这些 可能 不 够,多 买 一点 吧,<em>以防万一</em>。<span class="pinyin"> Zhèxiē kěnéng bù gòu, duō mǎi yīdiǎn ba, <em>yǐ fáng wànyī</em>.</span><span class="trans">These are probably not good enough. We should buy some more. Just in case. </span>
  

Revision as of 09:48, 9 February 2017

万一 (wànyī)

Expressing "Just in Case" in Statements

表示可能性极小的假设,多用于说话人不希望发生的情况。后面的分句一般是应对这种不如意情况的具体方法。“万一”可以用在主语前,也可以用在主语后。

Structure

万一⋯⋯ ,⋯⋯。

Examples

  • 万一 他 不 喜欢,你 可以 来 换。 Wànyītā bù xǐhuan, nǐ kěyǐ lái huàn. In case he doesn't like it, you can come to make an exchange.
  • 我 需要 记 下来,万一 忘 了,可以 查。Wǒ xūyào jì xiàlái, wànyī wàng le, kěyǐ chá.I need to write it down. In case I forget, I can look it up here.
  • 万一 发生 这种 情况,你们 就 这样 做。 Wànyī fāshēng zhè zhǒng qíngkuàng,nǐmen jiù zhèyàng zuò. In case this situation happens, do it this way.
  • 万一 有 危险,马上 给 我 打 电话。 Wànyī yǒu wēixiǎn, mǎshàng gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà.In case there is any danger, call me immediately.
  • 万一 迷路 了,就 用 地图 导航。 Wànyī mílù le, jiù yòng dìtú dǎoháng. In case you get lost, use the map navigation.

Asking "What if" in Questions

表示可能性极小的假设,多用于不如意的事情。“万一”可以用在主语前,也可以用在主语后。

Structure

万一⋯⋯ 怎么办?

or

万一⋯⋯ 呢?

Examples

  • 万一 我 父母 不 同意 呢?Wànyī wǒ fùmǔ bù tóngyì ne? What if my parents disagree?
  • 万一 不 在 呢?你 还是 先 打 电话 问 问 吧。wànyī bù zài ne? Nǐ háishì xiān dǎ diànhuà wèn wèn ba. What if he's not there? You'd better make a call first.
  • 万一 被 老板 发现 了 怎么办? Wànyī bèi lǎobǎn fāxiàn le zěnme bàn? What if you got busted by the boss?
  • 早 点 走 吧,万一 堵车 呢?Zǎo diǎn zǒu ba, wànyī dǔchē ne?We should leave earlier. What if there is a traffic jam?
  • 你 喝 了 这么 多 酒 还 要 开车?万一 撞到 人 怎么办?Nǐ hē le zhème duō jiǔ hái yào kāichē? Wànyī zhuàngdào rén zěnme bàn? You want to drive after you drank so much? What if you hit someone?

Usage of the phase 以防万一(yǐ fáng wànyī)

Notice that 万一 (wànyī) is used as a noun here. 指可能性极小的意外变化,多是不好的。

Examples

  • 北京 的 冬天 特别 冷,多 带 几 件 衣服 以防万一 Běijīng de dōngtiān tèbié lěng, duō dài jǐ jiàn yīfu yǐ fáng wànyī.It's very cold in winter in Beijing. You should bring a few more pieces of clothing. Just in case.
  • 这么 晚 出去,最好 找 一个 男生 陪 你 一起,以防万一 Zhème wǎn chūqù, zuìhǎo zhǎo yī gè nánshēng péi nǐ yīqǐ, yǐ fáng wànyī .You'd better ask a boy to go out with you in such a late night. Just in case.
  • 这些 可能 不 够,多 买 一点 吧,以防万一 Zhèxiē kěnéng bù gòu, duō mǎi yīdiǎn ba, yǐ fáng wànyī.These are probably not good enough. We should buy some more. Just in case.

See also