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一旦

yí dàn

once

Usage note

一旦表示如果有一天或突然发生。

Yīdàn biǎoshì rúguǒ yǒu yī tiān huò tūrán fāshēng.

Once means if one day or suddenly happens.

Context note

一旦常用于假设或条件句。

Yīdàn chángyòng yú jiǎshè huò tiáojiàn jù.

Once is often used in hypothetical or conditional sentences.

5 examples

一旦下雨,我们就回家。
yí dàn xià yǔ, wǒ men jiù huí jiā。
Once it rains, we go home.
一旦开始,就要坚持。
yí dàn kāi shǐ, jiù yào jiān chí。
Once you start, you must persist.
一旦学会,就很简单。
yí dàn xué huì, jiù hěn jiǎn dān。
Once you learn it, it's very simple.
一旦迷路,要问人。
yí dàn mí lù, yào wèn rén。
Once lost, ask someone.
一旦决定,不要后悔。
yí dàn jué dìng, bú yào hòu huǐ。
Once decided, don't regret.

5 mini stories

一旦太阳出来,雪就融化。
yí dàn tài yáng chū lái, xuě jiù róng huà。
Once the sun comes out, the snow melts.
一旦小猫长大,就会抓老鼠。
yí dàn xiǎo māo zhǎng dà, jiù huì zhuā lǎo shǔ。
Once the kitten grows up, it will catch mice.
一旦写完作业,就可以玩。
yí dàn xiě wán zuò yè, jiù kě yǐ wán。
Once homework is done, you can play.
一旦春天来了,花就开了。
yí dàn chūn tiān lái le, huā jiù kāi le。
Once spring comes, flowers bloom.
一旦学会骑车,就很有趣。
yí dàn xué huì qí chē, jiù hěn yǒu qù。
Once you learn to ride a bike, it's fun.

Mini dialogue

一旦下雨

A
一旦下雨,我们就不能去公园了。
Yídàn xià yǔ, wǒmen jiù bù néng qù gōngyuán le.
Once it rains, we can't go to the park.
B
没关系,一旦天晴,我们再去。
Méi guānxi, yídàn tiān qíng, wǒmen zài qù.
It's okay, once it clears up, we'll go again.

一旦开始

A
一旦开始做作业,就要认真完成。
Yídàn kāishǐ zuò zuòyè, jiù yào rènzhēn wánchéng.
Once you start doing homework, you must finish it carefully.
B
好的,一旦开始,我不会停。
Hǎo de, yídàn kāishǐ, wǒ bú huì tíng.
Okay, once I start, I won't stop.

Related words and contrasts

similar
如果
rúguǒ
if

一旦 is stronger, implying 'once something happens, then...'

similar
万一
wànyī
in case; if by any chance

万一 is used for unlikely or undesirable possibilities.

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