họa chăng

Thân thiện

Trời mưa to quá, họa chăng chuyến bay sẽ bị hoãn.

Definition

1. Conjunction:
   • Unless; perhaps only if; maybe only then: Used to introduce a highly conditional, often negative or pessimistic, possibility. It suggests that a stated outcome might occur only under very specific and unlikely circumstances.

Usage Examples

• Conjunction:
  • Anh ta sẽ không đồng ý, họa chăng chúng ta trả giá cao hơn. (He will not agree, unless perhaps we offer a higher price.)
  • Cô ấy khó lòng đến được, họa chăng có ai đó đưa đón. (It's hard for her to come, unless maybe someone gives her a ride.)
  • Việc này không thể hoàn thành đúng hạn, họa chăng mọi người làm thêm giờ. (This cannot be finished on time, unless perhaps everyone works overtime.)

Advanced Usage

• "Họa chăng là...": Used to start a sentence, emphasizing the remote nature of the condition.
  • Họa chăng là trời không mưa, thì chúng tôi mới đi dã ngoại. (Unless it doesn't rain, then we might go on the picnic. / The only way we go on the picnic is if it doesn't rain.)

Variants and Related Words

• Trừ phi (conj): Unless. A more direct and common synonym.
• Trừ khi (conj): Unless. Functionally identical to "trừ phi".

Synonyms

• Unless: Except on the condition that.
• Perhaps only if: Introducing a remote condition.
• Maybe only then: Suggesting a slim possibility.

Related Idioms

• Họa chăng mới...: An emphatic structure reinforcing the "only maybe" sense.
  • Họa chăng mới có người giải được bài toán này. (Only maybe would someone solve this math problem.)

Học thuật

1. Unless