但凡…都…
HSK 6- Conditionals
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
The structure 但凡…都… is used to emphasize that whenever a certain condition is met, a particular result will follow.
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
The structure 但凡...都/就... is an emphatic construction meaning "as long as," "whoever/whatever... then without exception..." It asserts categorically that whenever the condition in the first clause is met, the result in the second clause will certainly follow, with no exceptions.
This structure is slightly more formal and forceful than 凡是...都..., typically used in written language or when one wishes to express strong conviction. 但凡 establishes a scope, and 都 or 就 generalizes across all cases within that scope.
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 但凡他答应的事，都办得到。繁: 但凡他答應的事，都辦得到。Dànfán tā dāying de shì, dōu bàn de dào.
Whatever he promises to do, he can always accomplish it.
- 但凡是美女，他都喜欢。繁: 但凡是美女，他都喜歡。Dànfán shì měinǚ, tā dōu xǐhuan.
He likes any woman who is beautiful.
- 但凡下雨天，路上都很堵。Dànfán xià yǔ tiān, lùshang dōu hěn dǔ.
Whenever it rains, the roads are always congested.
- 但凡学过中文，都知道他。繁: 但凡學過中文，都知道他。Dànfán xué guo Zhōngwén, dōu zhīdào tā.
Anyone who has ever studied Chinese knows him.
- 但凡妈妈做的菜，我都爱吃。繁: 但凡媽媽做的菜，我都愛吃。Dànfán māma zuò de cài, wǒ dōu ài chī.
Whatever dish my mom cooks, I love to eat it.
Common mistakes
- Wrong:但凡努力的人，会成功。Correct:但凡努力的人，都会成功。
但凡 always pairs with 都 or 就 to summarize the scope mentioned. 都 cannot be omitted.
- Wrong:如果但凡你努力，都会成功。Correct:但凡你努力，都会成功。
但凡 already contains the meaning of "if," so there is no need to use 如果 additionally; using both would be redundant.