Chinese phrase
除非〜，否则〜 chú fēi 〜 fǒu zé 〜
Meaning
if not ___ then ___
When to use it
This expression states a result when a condition is not met. It clearly presents a condition and its alternative outcome, often in a firm tone.
Example dialogue
除非你周五之前确认，否则我们就按原计划推进。 chú fēi nǐ zhōu wǔ zhī qián què rèn fǒu zé wǒ men jiù àn yuán jì huà tuī jìn
Unless you confirm by Friday, we'll proceed with the original plan.
好的，我周五前回复你。 hǎo de wǒ zhōu wǔ qián huí fù nǐ
Okay, I'll get back to you by Friday.