除非…否则…
unless …, (otherwise) …
Structure
除非 唯一的条件 ， 否则／不然 结果
What it means
“Unless …, (otherwise) …”: only condition A can stop result B, or only A will let C happen.
How it is built
除非 + only condition，否则／不然 + result: 除非你亲自去请，否则他不会来 (He will not come unless you invite him in person).
When to use it
除非 A，否则 B: only A can stop B. 除非 A，才 C: only if A will C happen: 除非你亲自去请，他才会来.
Watch out
Don’t leave the second half bare: ✗ 除非你亲自去请，他会来。 ✓ 除非你亲自去请，他才会来。 Add 否则 (+ what happens without A) or 才 (+ what A allows).
Examples
除非房价降下来，否则这种趋势很难改变。
Unless prices fall, this trend will be hard to change.
除非你亲自去请，否则他不会来。
He will not come unless you invite him in person.
Learn this in Lesson 28 · HSK 5–6: 房子与婚姻 (Housing and marriage)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. This lesson is free.
Open the lesson →