HSK 6 grammar · new HSK syllabus
除非…才… / 除非…否则…: only if, unless
除非 A 才 B = only if A, B; 除非 A，否则 B = unless A, B.
Structure
- 除非 + condition，才 + result
- 除非 + condition，否则 / 不然 + result
How it works
除非…才… states the only condition: 除非你亲自去，他才会同意 = he’ll only agree if you go in person.
除非…否则… states what happens if the condition isn’t met: 除非下大雨，否则比赛照样进行.
Examples
-
除非你亲自去请他，他才会来。
He’ll only come if you invite him in person.
-
除非下大雨，否则我们明天一定去。
Unless it pours, we’re definitely going tomorrow.
-
除非有特殊情况，否则不能请假。
You can’t take leave unless there are special circumstances.
-
除非你告诉我真相，我才能帮你。
I can only help you if you tell me the truth.
-
除非他道歉，不然我不会原谅他。
I won’t forgive him unless he apologises.
Words in these examples (29)
| 除非 | chúfēi | only if (..., or otherwise, ...); only when; only in the case that | HSK 6 |
| 你 | nǐ | you | HSK 1 |
| 亲自 | qīnzì | personally; in person; oneself | HSK 5 |
| 去 | qù | to go | HSK 1 |
| 请 | qǐng | please; to invite; to treat (pay for) | HSK 1 |
| 他 | tā | he; him | HSK 1 |
| 才 | cái | only then; only; just | HSK 3 |
| 会 | huì | can; to know how to | HSK 1 |
| 来 | lái | to come | HSK 1 |
| 下 | xià | down; below; to go down; to get off; next | HSK 1 |
| 大 | dà | big; large; old (age) | HSK 1 |
| 雨 | yǔ | rain | HSK 1 |
| 否则 | fǒuzé | otherwise | HSK 4 |
| 我们 | wǒmen | we; us | HSK 1 |
| 明天 | míngtiān | tomorrow | HSK 1 |
| 一定 | yídìng | certainly; surely | HSK 3 |
| 有 | yǒu | to have; there is | HSK 1 |
| 特殊 | tèshū | special; particular; unusual | HSK 5 |
| 情况 | qíngkuàng | situation | HSK 4 |
| 不 | bù | not; no | HSK 1 |
| 能 | néng | can; to be able to | HSK 1 |
| 请假 | qǐngjià | to ask for leave | HSK 3 |
| 告诉 | gàosu | to tell | HSK 2 |
| 我 | wǒ | I; me | HSK 1 |
| 真相 | zhēnxiàng | the truth about sth; the actual facts | HSK 6 |
| 帮 | bāng | to help | HSK 2 |
| 道歉 | dàoqiàn | to apologize | HSK 4 |
| 不然 | bùrán | not so; no; or else | HSK 5 |
| 原谅 | yuánliàng | to forgive | HSK 4 |
Common mistakes
-
✗除非你去，他就会来。
✓除非你去，他才会来。
除非 pairs with 才 or 否则, not 就.
-
✗除非下雨，我们不去。（meaning “unless it rains, we’ll go”）
✓除非下雨，否则我们一定去。
Use 否则 to state the default outcome.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 除非你同意， 他才能参加。
2. 除非有急事， 他不会迟到。
3. 你努力，否则很难通过考试。