若非 (rě) — 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，。rě Nǐ de bāng zhù, wǒ wú fǎ chéng gōng.If not for your help, I couldn't succeed.
- 若非，。rě 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，。rě Xià yǔ, wǒ men jiù qù pá shān le.If it weren't raining, we would have gone hiking.
Appears in
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