Definition
但凡 is an adverb used to introduce a universal condition, often in the pattern 但凡…都/也…, meaning 'whenever' or 'no matter who/what/when'. It can also mean 'so long as' when describing a necessary condition. The word is relatively formal and literary, and the main clause always includes 都, 也, or 就 to complete the meaning.
adv.
(adverb, pattern: 但凡…都/也…) wheneverno matter (who, what, when) — emphasizes universal scope
adverb
so long asprovided that — introduces a necessary condition
Examples
- ，。Dàn fán qù guò nàlǐ de rén, dōu shuō fēngjǐng hěn měi.Whenever someone has been there, they say the scenery is beautiful.
- ，。Dàn fán yǒu diǎn liángzhī de rén, yě bú huì zuò chū zhè zhǒng shì.No matter who has a little conscience, they wouldn't do such a thing.
- ，。Dàn fán yǒu xīwàng, wǒmen jiù bú huì fàngqì.So long as there is hope, we won't give up.
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