Deep End
← Grammar guides

Level Proficient Chinese · HSK 7–9

Formal Conditions and Purpose: 以便, 以免, 倘若, 纵然, 唯有 and 为…起见

Laws, regulations, contracts and formal essays have their own set of conditional and purpose words. They're mostly upgrades of words you know: 若 for 如果, 纵然 for 即使, 以便 for 为了. Choosing the formal word keeps a document consistent in tone.

以便 and 以免

以便 (yǐbiàn) means 'so that, in order to make it easier to'. It opens the second clause, after the action: 请留下电话，以便我们联系您 (please leave your number so that we can contact you).

以免 (yǐmiǎn) means 'so as not to, lest': 请保管好行李，以免丢失 (please look after your luggage to avoid losing it). Its spoken relative is 免得. Unlike 为了, neither can open the sentence.

  • 请提前预约，以便我们安排时间。

    Qǐng tíqián yùyuē, yǐbiàn wǒmen ānpái shíjiān.

    Please book in advance so that we can arrange a time.

  • 雨天路滑，请减速慢行，以免发生事故。

    Yǔtiān lù huá, qǐng jiǎnsù màn xíng, yǐmiǎn fāshēng shìgù.

    Roads are slippery in the rain; please slow down to avoid accidents.

倘若 / 若 and 纵然 / 虽说

倘若 (tǎngruò), 若 (ruò), 如若 (rúruò) and 假若 (jiǎruò) are formal versions of 如果. 若 is the most common in regulations: 若有疑问，请致电客服. The main clause often takes 则 or 便.

纵然 (zòngrán) and 纵使 (zòngshǐ) are literary versions of 即使, with 也. 虽说 (suīshuō) is a spoken-to-neutral 'although': 虽说是周末，他还是去了公司.

  • 倘若对方不同意，我们便另作安排。

    Tǎngruò duìfāng bù tóngyì, wǒmen biàn lìng zuò ānpái.

    Should the other party not agree, we will make other arrangements.

  • 纵然困难重重，我们也不会放弃。

    Zòngrán kùnnan chóngchóng, wǒmen yě bú huì fàngqì.

    However many difficulties there may be, we will not give up.

唯有…才, 唯独, 非…莫属 and 为…起见

唯有 (wéiyǒu) is the written 只有: 唯有 A，才 B (only by A can B). 唯独 (wéidú) means 'only, alone (as an exception)': 大家都同意，唯独他反对. 非 X 莫属 (fēi X mò shǔ) means 'it can only be X': 冠军非他莫属 (the title is bound to be his).

为 (wèi) + adjective / noun + 起见 (qǐjiàn) means 'for the sake of': 为安全起见 (for safety's sake). 出于…考虑 (chūyú … kǎolǜ) means 'out of consideration for'.

  • 唯有坚持不懈，才能取得成功。

    Wéiyǒu jiānchí búxiè, cái néng qǔdé chénggōng.

    Only by persevering can you succeed.

  • 为安全起见，请系好安全带。

    Wèi ānquán qǐjiàn, qǐng jìhǎo ānquándài.

    For your safety, please fasten your seat belt.

  • 出于环保考虑，酒店不再提供一次性牙刷。

    Chūyú huánbǎo kǎolǜ, jiǔdiàn bú zài tígōng yícìxìng yáshuā.

    For environmental reasons, the hotel no longer provides disposable toothbrushes.

Common mistakes

  • ✗以便我们联系您，请留下电话。

    ✓请留下电话，以便我们联系您。

    Qǐng liúxià diànhuà, yǐbiàn wǒmen liánxì nín.

    以便 and 以免 introduce the second clause. To put purpose first, use 为了.

  • ✗为了安全起见，请系好安全带。

    ✓为安全起见，请系好安全带。

    Wèi ānquán qǐjiàn, qǐng jìhǎo ānquándài.

    The set frame is 为…起见. 为了…起见 is common in speech but considered a mixed construction in careful writing.

  • ✗唯有努力，就能成功。

    ✓唯有努力，才能成功。

    Wéiyǒu nǔlì, cái néng chénggōng.

    唯有 / 只有 pairs with 才. 就 belongs with 只要 (as long as).

Questions learners ask

What's the difference between 以免 and 免得?

Meaning is the same; 以免 is written and 免得 is spoken.

Is 若 used in speech?

Rarely, except in fixed phrases like 若有所思 (lost in thought). Use 如果 or 要是.

Practice this in lessons

The Proficient Chinese lessons teach this step by step, with exercises and review built in.

Practice this in lessons →

Related grammar guides