if not; were it not for
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesconjunction
if not; were it not for; had it not been for
literaryUsed in formal or literary contexts to introduce a hypothetical negative condition. Often paired with rhetorical questions (岂知, 怎会) to emphasize the consequence.
Ruò若
fēi非
qīn亲
shēn身
jīng经
lì历
，
qǐ岂
zhī知
qí其
zhōng中
gān甘
kǔ苦
。
Had it not been for personal experience, how could one know the hardships and joys involved?
Ruò若
fēi非
nǐ你
de的
tí提
xǐng醒
，
wǒ我
chà差
diǎn点
wàng忘
le了
zhè这
jiàn件
shì事
。
If it were not for your reminder, I would have almost forgotten about this matter.
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Ruò若
fēi非
wàn万
bù不
dé得
yǐ已
，
tā他
bù不
huì会
kāi开
kǒu口
qiú求
rén人
。
Were it not for absolute necessity, he would not open his mouth to ask others for help.