除非 (chúfēi) · unless

除非 (chúfēi) means “unless; only if”. It is written with 2 characters: 除 (to remove) + 非 (not). It is an old HSK 5 word (HSK 2.0).

How 除非 is built

The characters

除 chú · to remove

What 除 is made of

阝fù / yì (names) — mound/city side-form
- 丨 — vertical stroke
余yú — surplus
- 人rén — person

Origin hint: The waste 余 produced by a city 阝 (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)

非 fēi · not

What 非 is made of

非 is not built from smaller parts; it is written with 8 strokes.

Origin hint: Two bird's wings opposed; two people back-to-back (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)

Example sentences

除非下大雨，否则比赛照常进行。Chúfēi xià dàyǔ, fǒuzé bǐsài zhàocháng jìnxíng.Unless it rains heavily, the match will go ahead.

除非你去，我才去。Chúfēi nǐ qù, wǒ cái qù.I'll only go if you go.

Questions about 除非

What does 除非 mean?

除非 (chúfēi) means “unless; only if”.

How do you pronounce 除非?

除非 is pronounced chúfēi.

Which HSK level is 除非?

除非 is in Old HSK 5.

Related words

Learn 除非 with its group

It is part of Old HSK 5 · Group 15: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.

Open the group