Only if in Chinese

Grammar Piont:
The structure 除非 chúfēi… 才cái… is used in Chinese to express a condition or requirement that must be met in order for something to happen. It can be roughly translated to “Only if… will…” or “Unless… then…” in English.

Structure

除非 + Condition，才 + Result

This structure emphasizes that something will only occur under a very specific condition.

除非chúfēi你nǐ答應dāyìng我wǒ， 我wǒ才cái和hé你nǐ一起yìqǐ去qù除非chúfēi你nǐ答应dāyìng我wǒ， 我wǒ才cái和hé你nǐ一起yìqǐ去qù
Only if you promise me, then I will go with you.

除非chúfēi你nǐ幫bāng我wǒ加薪jiāxīn， 我wǒ才cái可能kěnéng繼續jìxù在zài這裡zhèlǐ工作gōngzuò除非chúfēi你nǐ帮bāng我wǒ加薪jiāxīn， 我wǒ才cái可能kěnéng继续jìxù在zài这里zhèlǐ工作gōngzuò
Only if you give me a raise will I be able to continue working here.

除非chúfēi你nǐ拿ná到dào大學dàxué文憑wénpíng， 才cái有yǒu機會jīhuì找zhǎo到dào好hǎo工作gōngzuò除非chúfēi你nǐ拿ná到dào大学dàxué文凭wénpíng， 才cái有yǒu机会jīhuì找zhǎo到dào好hǎo工作gōngzuò
Only if you get a college diploma will you have a chance to get a good job.

除非chúfēi天tiān下xià紅雨hóngyǔ， 我wǒ才cái可能kěnéng原諒yuánliàng你nǐ除非chúfēi天tiān下xià红雨hóngyǔ， 我wǒ才cái可能kěnéng原谅yuánliàng你nǐ
Only if it rains red from the sky, will I consider forgiving you.

FYI
The Taiwanese slang “天下紅雨 tiān xià hóngyǔ” is a humorous and exaggerated way of saying “impossible” or “never gonna happen.” The phrase literally translates to “red rain from the sky.” It is often used to express skepticism or doubt towards an unlikely proposition or promise. Just like saying “when pigs fly” or “when hell freezes over” in English. It’s a fun way to express that something is extremely unlikely to happen.

除非chúfēi你nǐ努力nǔlì學習xuéxí， 才cái有yǒu可能kěnéng考kǎo上shàng好hǎo大學dàxué除非chúfēi你nǐ努力nǔlì学习xuéxí， 才cái有yǒu可能kěnéng考kǎo上shàng好hǎo大学dàxué
Only if you study hard, you can get into a good university

除非chúfēi他tā心情xīnqíng好hǎo， 我們wǒmen才cái有yǒu機會jīhuì說服shuìfú他tā除非chúfēi他tā心情xīnqíng好hǎo， 我们wǒmen才cái有yǒu机会jīhuì说服shuōfú他tā
Only if he is in a good mood, then we have a chance to convince him.

除非chúfēi你nǐ有yǒu簽證qiānzhèng， 我wǒ才cái能néng幫bāng你nǐ介紹jièshào工作gōngzuò除非chúfēi你nǐ有yǒu签证qiānzhèng， 我wǒ才cái能néng帮bāng你nǐ介绍jièshào工作gōngzuò
Only if you have a visa can I help you with job referrals.

• Unless 除非 chúfēi···否則否则 fǒuzé or 要不然 yàobùrán (HSK 5)