但凡

dànfán

conjunction #36,151

Meanings

1 every single (one of); whenever
2 as long as; provided that
3 if only

Characters

Examples

HSK 1

但凡他早一点说，我就能帮上忙了。

Dànfán tā zǎo yīdiǎn shuō, wǒ jiù néng bāng shàng máng le.

If only he had spoken up earlier, I could have helped.

HSK 4

但凡有点常识的人都不会这么做。

Dànfán yǒudiǎn chángshí de rén dōu bùhuì zhème zuò.

Anyone with even a bit of common sense wouldn't do this.

HSK 4

但凡有空，他就会去看望母亲。

Dànfán yǒukòng, tā jiù huì qù kànwàng mǔqin.

Whenever he has time, he goes to visit his mother.

Tips

grammar

Two patterns: (1) 但凡 + condition, 都/就… - 'every X without exception': 但凡看过的人都说好 ('everyone who has seen it says it's good'). (2) Counterfactual: 但凡 X, 就 Y - 'if only X had happened, then Y'. Slightly literary; everyday speech swaps in 只要 (zhǐyào) or 凡是 (fánshì).

Stroke Order

但 dàn

凡 fán