Your learning plan · Continue · Review →
除非 … ，才 … (only if / unless)
IntroducedYour saved position stays in this browser. Resuming does not complete the lesson or answer its questions.
Only with a password
- The office printer only works for staff with a card.
- only if除非you你to have / there is有staff员工to block卡，talent才能to use / with用这台printer打印机。 — "Only if you have a staff card can you use this printer."
only if除非 A，only then才 B = only if A, B
- only if除非 A，only then才 B = B happens only if A happens: A is the one necessary condition.
- It is close to only have ...只有…only then才….
only if除非you你go去，he他only then才will会go去。
What does 除非你去，我才去 mean?
Difficulty 1/5 · 100 coins + a small bonus on first completion today
除非 A，才 B means “only if A, then B”: 除非你去，我才去 “I'll go only if you go.” It does not mean “except for”.
only if除非 A，otherwise否则 / not so不然 B = unless A, B
- only if除非 A，otherwise否则 B = unless A, B will happen: only if除非fall下heavy rain大雨，otherwise否则the match比赛as usual照常goes ahead进行。 — "Unless it rains heavily, the match goes ahead."
- otherwise否则 / not so不然 introduces what happens when A does not happen.
unless除非fall下heavy rain大雨，otherwise否则the match比赛as usual照常goes ahead进行。
Complete: “Unless you hurry, you'll miss the train.” 除非你快一点儿，____就赶不上火车了。
Difficulty 1/5 · 100 coins + a small bonus on first completion today
除非 A，否则 B = unless A, B.
Build: “Unless it rains heavily, the match goes ahead.”
Difficulty 3/5 · 200 coins + a small bonus on first completion today
除非 A，否则 B.
Two different second halves
- With only then才: only if除非 A，only then才 B — B only if A. With otherwise否则: only if除非 A，otherwise否则 B — B unless A. Do not mix the logic.
- only if除非fall下heavy rain大雨，we / us我们all都go去 (without otherwise否则) is ambiguous; use otherwise否则 or not so不然 to make "unless" clear.
only if除非 versus except除了
- except除了 = except / besides: except除了he他，everyone大家all都came来(completed / change)了.
- only if除非 = only if / unless, about conditions: only if除非he他came来，I / me我only then才go去.
except除了him他，everyone大家all都came来了。
除非 and 除了 mean the same.
Difficulty 1/5 · 100 coins + a small bonus on first completion today
除了 = except; 除非 = only if / unless.
Recap
- only if除非 A，only then才 B = only if A, B; only if除非 A，otherwise否则 / not so不然 B = unless A, B.
- except除了 is "except"; only if除非 is about conditions.
Read the full reference: HSK 4 grammar — Conditional statements.
The office printer only works for staff with a card. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.