除非…才/否则… chúfēi… cái/fǒuzé…

除非…才/否则…（chúfēi… cái/fǒuzé…）means “unless… (only then)… / otherwise…”. "除非" marks the only precondition for something to happen. Formation: 除非 + 小句1（唯一条件），(主语) + 才 + 小句2；或 除非…，否则…

unless… (only then)… / otherwise…

HSK5

Formation

除非 + 小句1（唯一条件），(主语) + 才 + 小句2；或 除非…，否则…

Explanation

"除非" marks the only precondition for something to happen. With "才", it means "only if X will Y happen"; with "否则/不然", it means "unless X, otherwise (the opposite result)". It stresses that X is the sole necessary condition.

Examples

除非 你亲自去，他 才 会相信。
chúfēi nǐ qīnzì qù, tā cái huì xiāngxìn.
Only if you go in person will he believe it.
除非 下大雨，否则 比赛照常举行。
chúfēi xià dàyǔ, fǒuzé bǐsài zhàocháng jǔxíng.
Unless it rains heavily, the match will be held as usual.

Note

Pairs with "才" (only then) or "否则/不然" (otherwise). "除非" = the sole condition.

FAQ

除非…才/否则… — what does it mean and how is it used?

unless… (only then)… / otherwise…. "除非" marks the only precondition for something to happen. With "才", it means "only if X will Y happen"; with "否则/不然", it means "unless X, otherwise (the opposite result)". It stresses that X is the sole necessary condition.

除非…才/否则… — how do you form it?

除非 + 小句1（唯一条件），(主语) + 才 + 小句2；或 除非…，否则…

除非…才/否则… — any usage notes?

Pairs with "才" (only then) or "否则/不然" (otherwise). "除非" = the sole condition.

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