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How to say “if it weren't for” in Chinese with 要不是

要不是 (yàobushì) + Condition, 就 (jiù) + Result (counterfactual)

要不是 (yào bù shì) — if it weren't for

HSK 5Sentence Patterns

Rule structure

要不是 (yàobushì) introduces a counterfactual condition, meaning "if it were not for". The result clause often uses 就 (jiù) and ends with 了 (le).

Examples

要不是你帮我，我就完蛋了。

Yàobushì nǐ bāng wǒ, wǒ jiù wándàn le.

If it weren’t for your help, I would have been finished.

Practice

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Characters

Words from this rule

要不

yào bù

Otherwise; or else; how about...; maybe

是

shì

To be, yes

就

jiù

Immediately, exactly, then, and... (adverb)

你

nǐ

You

帮

bāng

To help

我

wǒ

I, me

完

wán

To finish (post-verbal resultative particle)

了

le

Particle (completed action or change of state)

Frequently asked questions

How do you say “if it weren't for” in Chinese with 要不是?

Use the structure: 要不是 (yàobushì) + Condition, 就 (jiù) + Result (counterfactual). For example: 要不是你帮我，我就完蛋了。 — “If it weren’t for your help, I would have been finished”.

What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?

要不是你帮我，我就完蛋了。 — “If it weren’t for your help, I would have been finished”.

Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?

This grammar rule is part of HSK 5.

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More HSK 5 grammar rules

有关的 — related to…

跟 (gēn) / 和 (hé) / 与 (yǔ) + Noun + 有关的 (yǒuguān de) + Noun

不但…甚至连 — not only… even…

不但 (búdàn) + Clause 1, 甚至 (shènzhì) + 连 (lián) + Noun + 都 (dōu)/也 (yě) + Verb

所 — so-called

所谓 (suǒwèi) + Noun Phrase

一面 — simultaneous actions

一面 (yímiàn) + Verb 1, 一面 (yímiàn) + Verb 2

等于 — equal to

A + 等于 (děngyú) + B

更不用说 — let alone

⋯⋯，更不用说 (gèng bùyòng shuō)⋯⋯

而已 — that's all

Clause + 而已 (éryǐ)

别说 — let alone

别说 (biéshuō)⋯⋯，就是 (jiùshì)⋯⋯