除非

• Pinyin: chú fēi
• Hanzi breakdown: 除 = 阝 (mound) + 余 (surplus) — to remove, except; 非 = two wings facing opposite — not, wrong

Meaning

Unless; only if. A conjunction introducing the only condition under which something would happen or be true.

Used to introduce an exceptional condition. Often paired with 才 or 否则: 除非...才... (only if...then...), 除非...否则... (unless...otherwise...). The condition stated is typically difficult or unlikely to be met.

Examples

1. 除非你亲自去请他，否则他不会来。 Unless you personally go invite him, he won't come.
2. 除非下雨，我们每天都去公园跑步。 Unless it rains, we go running in the park every day.
3. 我不会放弃，除非已经没有任何希望。 I won't give up unless there's no hope left at all.

Usage Guide

Context: conditions, reasoning, everyday

Tone: conditional

Do Say

• 除非他道歉，我才会原谅他。(Only if he apologizes will I forgive him.)
• 除非万不得已，我不会打扰你。(Unless absolutely necessary, I won't bother you.)

Don't Say

• 说'除非我喜欢吃苹果'表示因为我喜欢 (Don't use 除非 for simple reasons — use 因为; 除非 introduces exceptional conditions)

Origin & History

除 (to remove, except) + 非 (not, wrong). Together meaning except if not, hence unless.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal