Grammar · Chapter 36
除非: only if, unless
除非 A，才 B · 除非 A，否则 B
除非 is 'only if': 除非你去，我才去 'I'll go only if you go'. With 否则 it means 'unless': 除非下雨，否则我们去爬山 'we'll go hiking unless it rains'. Don't confuse it with 除了, 'except'.
Examples
- 除非你去，我才去。 Chúfēi nǐ qù, wǒ cái qù. I'll go only if you go.
- 除非下雨，否则我们明天去爬山。 Chúfēi xiàyǔ, fǒuzé wǒmen míngtiān qù páshān. Unless it rains, we're going hiking tomorrow.