除非 (chúfēi) can be used as a conjunction, and means "unless." 否则
(fǒuzé) or 不然 (bùrán) often appear in the following phrase, to form
a construction meaning "unless x, otherwise
y":
Simplified Construction
The simplified construction more directly maps to the basic
English usage of "unless," as in, "I won't do it unless
you pay me."
Structure
除非 means "unless" in the following "y , 除非 x" pattern. The
sentences below place emphasis on the part after 除非.
Result / Fact ，除非 + Condition
Examples
- 我 不 去 ，除非 你 也 去 。I won't go unless
you go.
- 你 不能 进 ，除非 你 有 预约 。You can't come
in unless you have an appointment.
- 我 不 说 ，除非 你 答应 我 不会 生气 。I won't
tell you unless you promise me you won't be upset.
- 你 不 会 这么 快 升职 ，除非 你 表现 很 好 。You
won't get promoted so soon unless you perform very
well.
- 我们 公司 一般 不 允许 员工 请假 ，除非 理由 很 充分 。The company won't allow it's staff time off unless their
reason is good enough.
Advanced Construction
In the full construction, 除非 comes first, and the meaning is
"Unless x, otherwise y."
Structure
除非 + Condition ，否则 / 不然 + Result / Fact
Examples
- 除非 你 是 会员 ，否则 不能 进去 。Unless you have the membership, yo can't come
in.
- 除非 有 奇迹 ，不然 他 的 病 治 不好 。Unless miracle happens, his disease can't be
cured.
- 除非 你 听 我 的 ，否则 我 不 会 帮 你 。Unless you listen to me, I won't help you.
- 除非 你 有 证据 ，不然 谁 会 相信 ？Unless you have proof, who is going to believe
it?
- 除非 你 是 名牌 大学 毕业 的 ，否则 老板 不会 考虑 你 的
。The boss won't consider you unless you
graduate from a brand-name university university.
Used with 才
除非 is also used in the patterns below. The meaning expressed is
the same as the sentences above, but below the "Y" part expresses
what won't happen unless the 除非 condition
is met. It might be more helpful to think of 除非 here as meaning
"only if."
Structure
So that's "Only if x, y."
Examples
- 除非 我们 买 很 多 ，老板 才 能 给 我们 便宜 点 。Only if we buy a lot, the shop owner can make it less
expensive.
- 除非 旧 的 坏了 ，我 才 会 买 新的 。Only if the old one is broken, I will buy a new
one.
- 除非 有 很好 的 工作 机会 ，他 才 回 老家 。Only if there is a very good job opportunity, he will go
back to my hometown.
- 除非 老板 给 我 加薪 ，我 才 会 留下来 。Only if the boss gives me a pay raise, I will
stay.
- 除非 他 犯 了 很 大 的 错 ，老板 才 会 炒 他 的 鱿鱼
。Only if he makes a very big mistake, his boss
will fire him.
See also
Sources and Further
Reading
Category:
B2 grammar points