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若非 (ruò fēi) — if not; unless

Definition

Literary conjunction meaning 'if not' or 'unless', used to introduce a counterfactual or hypothetical condition. Much more formal and written than 如果不. Negates the premise to set up the main clause (e.g. 若非你帮忙……).

conjunction
if notunless

Examples

  • 若非，。
    ruò fēi Nǐ de bāng zhù, wǒ wú fǎ chéng gōng.
    If not for your help, I couldn't succeed.
  • 若非，。
    ruò fēi Tā jí shí gǎn dào, wǒ men jiù yǒu dà má fan le.
    If he hadn't arrived in time, we would be in big trouble.
  • 若非，。
    ruò fēi Xià yǔ, wǒ men jiù qù pá shān le.
    If it weren't raining, we would have gone hiking.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

若ruòif
非fēinot

若 'if' sets the condition for 非 'not', giving 'unless'.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

若 began as a picture of a person combing their hair, associated with obedience.

Open 若 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 非 is drawn from two wings facing opposite directions. It later came to be used for going against or not being.

Open 非 →
Appears in
Cause, Effect & Logic

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