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  3. Expressing "if it were not for" with 要不是 ("yao4bu4shi4")

Expressing "if it were not for" with 要不是 ("yao4bu4shi4")

要不是 yàobushì

Sentence patterns
HSK 4

Structure

要不是 ⋯⋯（的话），⋯⋯

Definition

要不是：用于引导一个假设条件，表示“如果不是因为……（的话）”，后跟结果，强调正是因为该条件导致了或没有导致某种结果。

Expressing 'if it were not for' or 'but for', used to introduce a hypothetical condition that, if not true, would lead to a different outcome.

Usage

通常用于过去或现在的事实相反的情况，结构为‘要不是 + 原因/条件，结果’。注意语气带有庆幸或遗憾。

Typically used for situations contrary to fact (past or present). Structure: '要不是 + reason/condition, result'. Conveys a tone of relief or regret.

Examples

  • 1 要不是你帮忙，我肯定完不成这个项目。 (If it weren't for your help, I definitely couldn't have finished this project.)
  • 2 要不是下雨，我们就去公园了。 (If it weren't raining, we would have gone to the park.)
  • 3 要不是他及时赶到，后果不堪设想。 (If it weren't for his timely arrival, the consequences would have been unthinkable.)
  • 4 要不是我妈提醒，我差点忘了今天的会议。 (If it weren't for my mom's reminder, I almost forgot today's meeting.)
  • 5 要不是你告诉我真相，我现在还被蒙在鼓里。 (If it weren't for you telling me the truth, I would still be kept in the dark.)

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