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March 24, 2026
除非chúfēi(chu2fei1)
除非 (chúfēi) is used to introduce a condition that must be met for something to happen, akin to 'unless' in English. It sets a prerequisite, indicating that if the condition is not fulfilled, the result will not occur. Commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese to express conditional statements.
Strokes17Frequency#730DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
The use of 除非 often reflects the importance of conditions in Chinese decision-making processes, such as in business negotiations where terms must be clearly defined. This highlights the value placed on clarity and agreement in Chinese culture.
Memory Tip
Think of 除 (chú) as 'removing' or 'excluding' and 非 (fēi) as 'not'. Imagine a door that you can only pass through if you remove all obstacles; thus, 除非 represents the idea of only passing through if certain conditions are removed.
Meanings of 除非
chúfēi(chu2fei1)
1only if (..., or otherwise, ...)
2only when
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About 除非
除非Simplified
17Strokes
—Radical
连词连词conjunction (conj.)Part of Speech
#730Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L6IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 除非
Podcast: 除非
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AI Study Notes for 除非
Usage Notes
When using 除非, it is often followed by another clause that outlines the consequence or situation. Learners should be cautious of mixing it up with similar phrases like '如果' (rúguǒ, if), which expresses a different type of condition. Common collocations include '除非...否则...' (chúfēi...fǒuzé...), meaning 'only if... otherwise...'.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 5 word, 除非 is essential for forming complex sentences and expressing conditional relationships. Students should practice using it in various sentence structures to gain fluency. It is related to other conditional phrases like '如果' (if) and '要是' (yàoshi, if).
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 除非 with 如果, leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '除非下雨，我去' (chúfēi xià yǔ, wǒ qù) is incorrect; it should be '如果下雨，我不去' (if it rains, I won't go).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 除非
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How to say only if (..., or otherwise, ...) in Chinese
“only if (..., or otherwise, ...)” in Chinese is除非chúfēi
除非 (chúfēi) is used to introduce a condition that must be met for something to happen, akin to 'unless' in English. It sets a prerequisite, indicating that if the condition is not fulfilled, the result will not occur. Commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese to express conditional statements.
When to use 除非
When using 除非, it is often followed by another clause that outlines the consequence or situation. Learners should be cautious of mixing it up with similar phrases like '如果' (rúguǒ, if), which expresses a different type of condition. Common collocations include '除非...否则...' (chúfēi...fǒuzé...), meaning 'only if... otherwise...'.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 除非 with 如果, leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '除非下雨，我去' (chúfēi xià yǔ, wǒ qù) is incorrect; it should be '如果下雨，我不去' (if it rains, I won't go).
Write 除非
除
非
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Grammar Patterns of 除非
除非 functions as a conjunction — it connects clauses or phrases. Many Chinese conjunctions come in pairs (虽然…但是…, 因为…所以…); use them at the front of the clauses they link. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
