Lessons 16, 17, 21, 26: Luckily, thanks to, and "otherwise": 幸亏, 多亏, 否则, 不然

Explanation

Structure

1. 1
   幸亏+Ssubjectoptional+…+(不然/要不) ……

   “幸亏” (also “幸好”) is usually used before the subject; thanks to a favorable condition, an undesirable result is avoided.

   • 幸亏我们带了雨伞，不然一定会被淋成“落汤鸡”。

     Xìngkuī wǒmen dàile yǔsǎn, bùrán yídìng huì bèi línchéng “luòtāngjī”.

     Luckily we brought umbrellas; otherwise we'd have been soaked to the skin.

   • 幸亏司机一下子把车停住了，才没有发生事故。

     Xìngkuī sījī yíxiàzi bǎ chē tíngzhù le, cái méiyǒu fāshēng shìgù.

     Luckily the driver braked in time, so there was no accident.

   • 今天幸亏遇到你，要不我真不知道该怎么办。

     Jīntiān xìngkuī yùdào nǐ, yàobù wǒ zhēn bù zhīdào gāi zěnme bàn.

     It's a good thing I ran into you today; otherwise I really wouldn't have known what to do.

   • 到清华门时，车子出了毛病。幸亏附近有一家修车铺。

     Dào Qīnghuá mén shí, chēzi chūle máobing. Xìngkuī fùjìn yǒu yì jiā xiūchēpù.

     The car broke down at the gate of Tsinghua. Luckily there was a repair shop nearby.

2. 2
   多亏+người / việc ，……

   Thanks to someone's help, something undesirable is avoided; expresses gratitude or a feeling of joy and good fortune.

   • 多亏你来了，不然我们真不知道怎么办。

     Duōkuī nǐ lái le, bùrán wǒmen zhēn bù zhīdào zěnme bàn.

     It's a good thing you came; otherwise we really wouldn't know what to do.

   • 多亏你没去，你去了一定得后悔。

     Duōkuī nǐ méi qù, nǐ qù le yídìng děi hòuhuǐ.

     Luckily you didn't go; if you had, you would certainly have regretted it.

   • 多亏你的帮助，要不我今天就回不去了。

     Duōkuī nǐ de bāngzhù, yàobù wǒ jīntiān jiù huí bu qù le.

     Thanks to your help; otherwise I wouldn't have been able to get home today.

   • 多亏您了，大哥。

     Duōkuī nín le, dàgē.

     It's all thanks to you, big brother.

3. 3
   …+否则+…

   “否则” = if not so (referring to what was said in the preceding clause); it links to the following clause.

   • 她肯定不在，否则屋子里不会不开灯。

     Tā kěndìng bú zài, fǒuzé wūzi lǐ bú huì bù kāi dēng.

     She's definitely not at home; otherwise the lights in the room wouldn't be off.

   • 你得努力学习了，否则毕不了业。

     Nǐ děi nǔlì xuéxí le, fǒuzé bì bu liǎo yè.

     You have to study hard; otherwise you won't be able to graduate.

   • 她一定有重要的事，否则不会这么晚来找你。

     Tā yídìng yǒu zhòngyào de shì, fǒuzé bú huì zhème wǎn lái zhǎo nǐ.

     She must have something important to do; otherwise she wouldn't come looking for you this late.

   • 我想我不能离开那个讲台，否则，我也许再也找不着这么理想的机会了。

     Wǒ xiǎng wǒ bù néng líkāi nàge jiǎngtái, fǒuzé, wǒ yěxǔ zài yě zhǎo bu zháo zhème lǐxiǎng de jīhuì le.

     I think I can't leave that podium; otherwise I might never find such an ideal opportunity again.

4. 4

   ……，不然(的话)，…… / 要不然、要不 / (其实)不然

   A. Adjective: "not so", used only as a predicate (其实不然). B. Conjunction: if not so…, introduces a result or conclusion clause; “的话” can be added to strengthen the hypothetical tone; in spoken language, “要不然”, “要不”.

   • 还是给他打个电话吧，不然他会担心的。

     Háishi gěi tā dǎ ge diànhuà ba, bùrán tā huì dānxīn de.

     You'd better call him, or else he'll worry.

   • 我们快点儿吧，要不然该迟到了。

     Wǒmen kuài diǎnr ba, yàobùrán gāi chídào le.

     Let's hurry, or else we'll be late.

   • 应该坚持上课，不然的话，你来中国留学干什么？

     Yīnggāi jiānchí shàngkè, bùrán de huà, nǐ lái Zhōngguó liúxué gàn shénme?

     You must keep going to class; otherwise, what did you come to China to study for?

   • 你说他笨，其实不然，他可聪明啦。

     Nǐ shuō tā bèn, qíshí bùrán, tā kě cōngming la.

     You say he's stupid, but actually that's not so; he's very smart.

   • 祝英台要求迎亲的花轿一定要路过梁山伯的坟墓。她要为山伯做最后的告别不然宁可一死。

     Zhù Yīngtái yāoqiú yíngqīn de huājiào yídìng yào lùguò Liáng Shānbó de fénmù. Tā yào wèi Shānbó zuò zuìhòu de gàobié bùrán nìngkě yì sǐ.

     Zhu Yingtai demanded that the bridal sedan chair pass by Liang Shanbo's grave. She had to say a last farewell to Shanbo; otherwise she would rather die.

   • 我们快点儿吧，要不该迟到了。

     Wǒmen kuài diǎnr ba, yàobù gāi chídào le.

     Let's hurry, or we'll be late.