除非 (chú fēi) — unless; only if, only in the case that

Definition

除非 marks a necessary condition: 'only if / unless' (often paired with 否则 or 不然 for the consequence). Unlike 如果 ('if' — any condition), 除非 insists the condition is the ONLY way the result happens, like 只有…才.

conjunction

unlessonly ifonly in the case that

Examples

除非，。
chú fēi Nǐ tóng yì, fǒu zé wǒ bú huì qù.
Unless you agree, I won't go.
除非，。
chú fēi Xià yǔ, wǒ men cái huì gǎi biàn jì huà.
Only if it rains will we change the plan.
除非，。
chú fēi Tā dào qiàn, bù rán wǒ bú huì yuán liàng tā.
Unless he apologizes, I won't forgive him.