照这样下去，…
if things go on like this; at this rate
Structure
情况 ， 照这样下去 ， 结果（迟早／早晚／会／就）
What it means
‘If things go on like this; at this rate’: points back at a trend just described and leads into a prediction, usually a warning but sometimes good news.
How it is built
Trend + 照这样下去 + result with 迟早/早晚/会/就: 你天天熬夜，照这样下去，身体早晚会出问题 (keep this up and your health will give out).
When to use it
Neutral and common in speech; 照这么下去 is more colloquial, the formal written equivalent is 长此以往. It can forecast good news: 照这样下去，年底就能收回成本.
Watch out
✗照这样下来 ✓照这样下去. 下来 runs from the past up to now (坚持下来); 下去 runs from now into the future, which a prediction needs.
Examples
照这样下去，沙子迟早会埋掉整个村子。
If things go on like this, sooner or later the sand will bury the whole village.
你天天熬夜，照这样下去，身体早晚会出问题。
You stay up late every night. Keep this up and your health will give out sooner or later.
销量一个月比一个月好，照这样下去，年底就能收回成本。
Sales are better every month; at this rate we will have recovered our costs by the end of the year.
Learn this in Lesson 170 · HSK 7–9: 绿色长城 (The Green Great Wall)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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