除非

chúfēi

conjunction HSK 5 #730

Meanings

Except if not - unless.

HSK 1

我不会去，除非你也去。

Wǒ búhuì qù, chúfēi nǐ yě qù.

I won't go unless you go too.

HSK 4

除非你亲自去，不然他不会相信。

Chúfēi nǐ qīnzì qù, bùrán tā búhuì xiāngxìn.

Unless you go in person, he won't believe it.

HSK 7-9

除非下雨，否则我们照常出发。

Chúfēi xiàyǔ, fǒuzé wǒmen zhàocháng chūfā.

Unless it rains, we'll set off as planned.

grammar

除非 is often paired with 否则 (otherwise), 不然 (otherwise), or 才 (only then). Pattern: 除非 A, 否则 B = "Unless A, then B." Or: B, 除非 A = "B, unless A."

usage

除非 states a necessary condition. It's stronger than 如果 (if). 除非 implies "only under this one condition" while 如果 is a general "if."

除 chú

非 fēi