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

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万一 (wànyī)  
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Literally meaning "ten thousand to one," 万一 (wànyī) is a word you can use to discuss unlikely possibilities in the sense of "in case" or "in the unlikely event that."
  
 
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[[Category:**URGENT**]]
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== Expressing "Just in Case" in Statements ==
 
== 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。
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万一 (wànyī) is used for possibilities the speaker considers highly unlikely, and most often is used to bring up undesirable situations. After bringing up the possibility of "disaster," the rest of the sentence normally addresses what "we" should do about it.
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
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万一 can go before or after the [[subject]] of a sentence.
  
 
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* <em>万一</em> 他 不 喜欢,你 可以 来 换。<span class="pinyin"> <em>Wànyī</em>tā bù xǐhuan, nǐ kěyǐ lái huàn. </span><span class="trans">In case he doesn't like it, you can come to make an exchange. </span>
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* <em>万一</em> 他 不 喜欢,你 可以 来 换。<span class="expl">This "if" is more of a "in the unlikely event that"</span><span class="pinyin"><em>Wànyī</em> tā bù xǐhuan, nǐ kěyǐ lái huàn. </span><span class="trans">If he doesn't like it, you can come to make an exchange. </span>
* 我 需要 记 下来,<em>万一</em> 忘 了,可以 查。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ xūyào jì xiàlái, <em>wànyī</em> wàng le, kěyǐ chá.</span><span class="trans">I need to write it down. In case I forget, I can look it up here.</span>
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* 我 需要 记 下来 ,<em>万一</em> 忘 了,可以 查。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ xūyào jì xiàlái, <em>wànyī</em> wàng le, kěyǐ chá.</span><span class="trans">I need to write it down. In case I forget, I can look it up.</span>
* <em>万一</em> 发生 这种 情况,你们 就 这样 做。<span class="pinyin"> <em>Wànyī</em> fāshēng zhè zhǒng qíngkuàng,nǐmen jiù zhèyàng zuò. </span><span class="trans">In case this situation happens, do it this way.</span>
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* <em>万一</em> 迷路 了,就 用 地图 导航。<span class="pinyin"> <em>Wànyī</em> mílù le, jiù yòng dìtú dǎoháng. </span><span class="trans">In case you get lost, use the map's GPS navigation.</span>
* <em>万一</em> 有 危险,马上 给 我 打 电话。<span class="pinyin"> <em>Wànyī</em> yǒu wēixiǎn, mǎshàng gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà.</span><span class="trans">In case there is any danger, call me immediately. </span>
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* <em>万一</em> 发生 这种 情况,你们 就 这样 做 。<span class="pinyin"> <em>Wànyī</em> fāshēng zhè zhǒng qíngkuàng,nǐmen jiù zhèyàng zuò. </span><span class="trans">In the unlikely event that this happens, this is what you should do.</span>
* <em>万一</em> 迷路 了,就 用 地图 导航。<span class="pinyin"> <em>Wànyī</em> mílù le, jiù yòng dìtú dǎoháng. </span><span class="trans">In case you get lost, use the map navigation.</span>
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* <em>万一</em> 有 危险,马上 给 我 打 电话。<span class="pinyin"> <em>Wànyī</em> yǒu wēixiǎn, mǎshàng gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà.</span><span class="trans">In the case of any danger, call me immediately. </span>
  
 
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== Asking "What if" in Questions ==
 
== 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。
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This use of 万一 (wànyī) has the same basic meaning as in a statement, but because it's a question, there's no solution offered. This unspoken solution to a usually undesirable possibility is what the speaker is asking for, but often it's a rhetorical question. (In other words, the speaker is saying, "if this happens, you're screwed.")
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
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 +
万一 can go before or after the [[subject]] of a sentence, and there are two common ways to use it in a question:
  
 
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or
 
  
 
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* <em>万一</em> 我 父母 不 同意 呢?<span class="pinyin"><em>Wànyī</em> wǒ fùmǔ bù tóngyì ne? </span><span class="trans">What if my parents disagree? </span>
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* <em>万一</em> 我 父母 不 同意 呢 ?<span class="pinyin"><em>Wànyī</em> wǒ fùmǔ bù tóngyì ne? </span><span class="trans">What if my parents don't agree? </span>
* 他 <em>万一</em> 不 在 呢?你 还是 先 打 电话 问 问 吧。<span class="pinyin"> Tā <em>wànyī</em> bù zài ne? Nǐ háishì xiān dǎ diànhuà wèn wèn ba. </span><span class="trans">What if he's not there? You'd better make a call first. </span>
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* 他 <em>万一</em> 不 在 呢 ?你 还是 先 打 电话 问 问 吧 。<span class="pinyin"> Tā <em>wànyī</em> bù zài ne? Nǐ háishì xiān dǎ diànhuà wèn wèn ba. </span><span class="trans">What if he's not there? You'd better call first. </span>
* <em>万一</em> 被 老板 发现 了 怎么办?<span class="pinyin"> <em>Wànyī</em> bèi lǎobǎn fāxiàn le zěnme bàn? </span><span class="trans">What if you got busted by the boss? </span>
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* <em>万一</em> 被 老板 发现 了 怎么办 ?<span class="pinyin"> <em>Wànyī</em> bèi lǎobǎn fāxiàn le zěnme bàn?</span><span class="trans">What if you get discovered by the boss? </span>
 
* 早 点 走 吧,<em>万一</em> 堵车 呢?<span class="pinyin">Zǎo diǎn zǒu ba, <em>wànyī</em> dǔchē ne?</span><span class="trans">We should leave earlier. What if there is a traffic jam? </span>
 
* 早 点 走 吧,<em>万一</em> 堵车 呢?<span class="pinyin">Zǎo diǎn zǒu ba, <em>wànyī</em> dǔchē ne?</span><span class="trans">We should leave earlier. What if there is a traffic jam? </span>
* 你 喝 了 这么 多 酒 还 要 开车?<em>万一</em> 撞到 人 怎么办?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ hē le zhème duō jiǔ hái yào kāichē? <em>Wànyī</em> zhuàngdào rén zěnme bàn? </span><span class="trans">You want to drive after you drank so much? What if you hit someone? </span>
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* 你 喝 了 这么 多 酒 还 要 开车?<em>万一</em> 撞到 人 怎么办?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ hē le zhème duō jiǔ hái yào kāichē? <em>Wànyī</em> zhuàngdào rén zěnme bàn? </span><span class="trans">You still want to drive after drinking so much? What if you hit someone? </span>
  
 
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== Usage of the phase 以防万一(yǐ fáng wànyī) ==
 
== 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。
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This usage is notably less common than the other two, but if you're looking to sophisticate your Chinese, this is a good leader phrase to know. (Later on you will learn more about what's going on with this [[以]].)
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Essentially this phrase is saying, "just in case!"
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
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 +
Note that 万一 (wànyī) is used as a noun here.
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 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>
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* 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">Beijing winters are especially cold. 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 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>
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* 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 so late at 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>
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* 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 enough. We should buy some more, just in case. </span>
  
 
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==See also==
 
==See also==
 
  
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]

Revision as of 01:18, 10 February 2017

Literally meaning "ten thousand to one," 万一 (wànyī) is a word you can use to discuss unlikely possibilities in the sense of "in case" or "in the unlikely event that."

Expressing "Just in Case" in Statements

万一 (wànyī) is used for possibilities the speaker considers highly unlikely, and most often is used to bring up undesirable situations. After bringing up the possibility of "disaster," the rest of the sentence normally addresses what "we" should do about it.

Structure

万一 can go before or after the subject of a sentence.

万一⋯⋯ ,⋯⋯。

Examples

  • 万一 他 不 喜欢,你 可以 来 换。This "if" is more of a "in the unlikely event that"Wànyī tā bù xǐhuan, nǐ kěyǐ lái huàn. If 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.
  • 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's GPS navigation.
  • 万一 发生 这种 情况,你们 就 这样 做 。 Wànyī fāshēng zhè zhǒng qíngkuàng,nǐmen jiù zhèyàng zuò. In the unlikely event that this happens, this is what you should do.
  • 万一 有 危险,马上 给 我 打 电话。 Wànyī yǒu wēixiǎn, mǎshàng gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà.In the case of any danger, call me immediately.

Asking "What if" in Questions

This use of 万一 (wànyī) has the same basic meaning as in a statement, but because it's a question, there's no solution offered. This unspoken solution to a usually undesirable possibility is what the speaker is asking for, but often it's a rhetorical question. (In other words, the speaker is saying, "if this happens, you're screwed.")

Structure

万一 can go before or after the subject of a sentence, and there are two common ways to use it in a question:

万一⋯⋯ 怎么办?

万一⋯⋯ 呢?

Examples

  • 万一 我 父母 不 同意 呢 ?Wànyī wǒ fùmǔ bù tóngyì ne? What if my parents don't agree?
  • 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 call first.
  • 万一 被 老板 发现 了 怎么办 ? Wànyī bèi lǎobǎn fāxiàn le zěnme bàn?What if you get discovered 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 still want to drive after drinking so much? What if you hit someone?

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

This usage is notably less common than the other two, but if you're looking to sophisticate your Chinese, this is a good leader phrase to know. (Later on you will learn more about what's going on with this .)

Essentially this phrase is saying, "just in case!"

Examples

Note that 万一 (wànyī) is used as a noun here.

  • 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.Beijing winters are especially cold. 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 so late at 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 enough. We should buy some more, just in case.

See also