ChineseGrammarWiki/Programmes/B2.old/Grammar-wiki-B2-110.txt

{{Grammar Box}} 

Sometimes in English, we have "you won't see one without the other." In Chinese, the same sort of idea can be achieved using "少不了" (shǎobuliǎo). It means that if there is one thing, then there is going to be another something along with it.

==Structure==

<div class="jiegou">

Subj. + 少不了 + 要 + [Verb Phrase]

</div>

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">

*学 中文 <em>少不了</em> 要 学 拼音 和 汉字 。<span class="trans">Studying Chinese always involves studying pinyin and Chinese characters.</span>
*回家 过年  <em>少不了</em> 要 带 点 礼物 给 家人 。<span class="trans">When you return home for CNY, you will definitely have to bring back some presents to give to your family.</span>
*过 生日 <em>少不了</em> 要 吃 生日 蛋糕 。<span class="trans">There are always birthday cakes when we spend birthdays.</span>
*大家 都 是 邻居 ，以后 <em>少不了</em> 要 麻烦 您 。<span class="trans">We're neighbors, so we'll definitely have to trouble you.</span>

</div>

==Relating Events==
Sometimes, the two things that "少不了" connects aren't objects. Instead they can be events, and the "少不了" is connecting them saying "It's like A because B happened." This construction is often based off of observations or experiences that the speaker has had, so that they can know (or assume) what situations relate to each other. It is often used together with "是."

===Structure===

<div class="jiegou">

Situation / Result ，少不了 + 是 + Reason

</div>

Note, however, that in this construction, the reason ''follows'' "少不了"

===Examples===

<div class="liju">

*八点 多 了 还 没 回 来，<em>少不了</em> 是 在 加班。<span class="trans">It's past 8 o'clock he still hasn't come back. He must be working overtime.</span>
*看 他 的 样子，<em>少不了</em> 是 跟 女 朋友 吵架 了。<span class="trans">Look at how he looks. He must have argued with his girlfriend.</span>
*这么 闷热，<em>少不了</em> 是 要 下 暴雨 。<span class="trans">It's so stuffy. It must be about to storm.</span>

</div>

==Sources and Further Reading==

===Books===

*[[卓越汉语－公司实战篇]] (p. 83) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E5%8D%93%E8%B6%8A%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD-%E5%85%AC%E5%8F%B8%E5%AE%9E%E6%88%98%E7%AF%87-%E8%83%A1%E7%81%B5%E5%9D%87/dp/B003QZWQ6M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347863170&sr=8-1 →buy]

===Websites===



[[Category:B2 grammar points]]
{{Used for|Indicating conditions}}
{{Used for|Indicating cause and effect}}
{{Used for|Referring to simultaneous events}}
{{Basic Grammar|少不了|B2|A 少不了 B|春节 <em>少不了</em> 吃 饺子。|grammar point|ASG3IR71}}
{{Rel char|少}}
{{Rel char|不了}}
{{Rel char|了}}
{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}}