一旦

yídàn
conjunction HSK 5 #1,028

Meanings

  1. 1 once (something happens)
  2. 2 in case
  3. 3 if

Characters

Literally "one dawn" - from the moment something happens.

Examples

HSK 4
Yídàn juédìng le, jiù búyào hòuhuǐ.
Once you've decided, don't regret it.
HSK 4
Yídàn nǐ kāishǐ xuéxí, jiù huì fāxiàn Zhōngwén hěn yǒuqù.
Once you start learning, you'll find Chinese is very interesting.
HSK 6
Yídàn fāshēng huǒzāi, qǐng lìjí líkāi dàlóu.
In case of fire, please leave the building immediately.

Tips

grammar
一旦… is a fixed pattern meaning "once… then…". The part describes the consequence.
usage
一旦 often implies something irreversible or something with significant consequences. It's more dramatic than 如果 (if).

Stroke Order

dàn