Chinese word

万一

Pronunciation

Pinyinwàn yī

Meaning

  • adverbif by any chance

Example

万一迟到，先打个电话。wàn yì chí dào xiān dǎ gè diàn huà

If you happen to be late, call first.

Illustration for 万一 (if by any chance)

More examples

万一丢了护照，赶紧报警。wàn yì diū le hù zhào gán jǐn bào jǐng

If by any chance you lose your passport, call the police immediately.

Core concept

A very unlikely possibility held in mind so a practical response is ready if it occurs.

Common phrases

  • 万一丢了护照wàn yì diū le hù zhào

    if by any chance you lose your passport

  • 万一出事wàn yì chū shì

    if by any chance something happens

  • 万一没带钱wàn yì méi dài qián

    if by any chance you did not bring money

Similar words

如果rú guǒ: Introduces a condition and states the result or action that follows.
要是yào shì: Introduces a possible condition in a casual spoken way and states what happens then.
假如jiǎ rú: Sets up a hypothetical situation and states its possible result or response.

Definition in Chinese

表示在极小概率下设想某事发生，用来提出预防或应对的假设。biǎo shì zài jí xiǎo gài lǜ xià shè xiǎng mǒu shì fā shēng yòng lái tí chū yù fáng huò yìng duì de jiǎ shè

Word origin

万一 (wànyī, "one in ten thousand") combines 万 (wàn, "ten thousand") + 一 (yī, "one"), using one event among many as an image of a small chance.

Usage tips

  • This word often appears when conversation moves from a rare risk to a concrete response, such as making a call or arranging an alternative.

Other meanings

  • in caseconjunction
  • supposeadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word