<p>There are several ways to say this. Literal translations of "but if" works fine. That is, any combination of "but":</p>

<ul>
<li>可是</li>
<li>但是</li>
<li>但</li>
<li>不過</li>
</ul>

<p>Followed by "if":</p>

<ul>
<li>如果</li>
<li>要是</li>
</ul>

<blockquote>
  <p>我通常六點起床，<strong>但如果</strong>很累會睡到八點。</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Although that's sufficient, a construction using the <a href="https://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E7%9A%84%E8%A9%B1" rel="nofollow noreferrer">"的話"</a> conditional particle sounds perhaps somewhat more natural to me. That is, you can use any of the but / but if options above, followed by your condition (being tired), and then 的話. For example:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>我通常六點起床，<strong>但</strong>很累<strong>的話</strong>會睡到八點。</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Note that with the particle, a separate "if" after the "but" is not necessary, but can be used nonetheless.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-27T11:48:36.753Z
2018-01-27T15:12:05.497Z
2018-01-27T15:12:05.497Z
Semaphore
<p>A literal translation to "但要是" is fine here.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>I usually get up at six o'clock, but if I'm really tired, I sleep until eight.</p>
  
  <p>我一般六点起床，但要是很累，我会睡到八点。</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-27T11:16:38.657Z
Thanks! So the first 是 goes away? It's never 但是要是 or 可是要是?
PetaspeedBeaver
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-27T11:18:18.793Z
Not exactly never ... but seldom, because it looks a bit too verbose.
Weijun Zhou
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-27T11:20:00.563Z
@PetaspeedBeaver P.S. 到八点睡觉 means "go to bed/sleep at eight". To express "until" you need to use the structure here.
Weijun Zhou
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-01T03:07:04.160Z
“但要是” is usually used in oral as well as “可要是”. “要是”=“要说”（to say）in this case.
Hao FU
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-27T11:14:15.517Z
2018-01-27T11:14:15.517Z
Weijun Zhou
<p>Just translate it word by word.</p>

<p>但 要是/但 如果/但 假如/不过 要是/不过 如果/etc. are all correct.</p>

<p>You can use 但是 or 但 as you like， both are correct. It just depend on how many syllables you want to say. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-27T11:48:30.877Z
2018-01-27T11:48:30.877Z
Ran
<p>How can I express that something happens if another condition is true? (Eng: &quot;Subject ... but if ... subject ...&quot;)</p>
<p>Example:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>I usually get up at six o'clock, <strong>but if</strong> I'm really tired, I sleep until eight.</p>
<p>我常起來六點，但是很累到八點睡覺。　（Can I write this?)</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-27T11:45:27.667Z
I think 不过如果 is better in this case
AGamePlayer
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-27T13:00:08.547Z
unless  ... in which case ...  除非。。。在这种情况下。。。
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-13T03:57:35.857Z
“但如果……的话”：我一般六点起床，但如果太累了的话，也可能一直睡到八点。
tsh
<grammar>
How do I write "but if" in Chinese?
# How do I write "but if" in Chinese?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-01-27)

How can I express that something happens if another condition is true? (Eng: "Subject ... but if ... subject ...")

Example:

> I usually get up at six o'clock, **but if** I'm really tired, I sleep until eight.
>
> 我常起來六點，但是很累到八點睡覺。　（Can I write this?)

**Tags:** grammar

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I think 不过如果 is better in this case  
> **username_2**: unless  ... in which case ...  除非。。。在这种情况下。。。  
> **username_3**: “但如果……的话”：我一般六点起床，但如果太累了的话，也可能一直睡到八点。  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2018-01-27. Score: 6

There are several ways to say this. Literal translations of "but if" works fine. That is, any combination of "but":

* 可是
* 但是
* 但
* 不過

Followed by "if":

* 如果
* 要是

> 我通常六點起床，**但如果**很累會睡到八點。

Although that's sufficient, a construction using the ["的話"](https://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E7%9A%84%E8%A9%B1) conditional particle sounds perhaps somewhat more natural to me. That is, you can use any of the but / but if options above, followed by your condition (being tired), and then 的話. For example:

> 我通常六點起床，**但**很累**的話**會睡到八點。

Note that with the particle, a separate "if" after the "but" is not necessary, but can be used nonetheless.


---

### Answer by username_5 on 2018-01-27. Score: 6

A literal translation to "但要是" is fine here.

> I usually get up at six o'clock, but if I'm really tired, I sleep until eight.
>
> 我一般六点起床，但要是很累，我会睡到八点。

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks! So the first 是 goes away? It's never 但是要是 or 可是要是?  
> **username_5**: Not exactly never ... but seldom, because it looks a bit too verbose.  
> **username_5**: @username_0 P.S. 到八点睡觉 means "go to bed/sleep at eight". To express "until" you need to use the structure here.  
> **username_6**: “但要是” is usually used in oral as well as “可要是”. “要是”=“要说”（to say）in this case.  

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### Answer by username_7 on 2018-01-27. Score: 1

Just translate it word by word.

但 要是/但 如果/但 假如/不过 要是/不过 如果/etc. are all correct.

You can use 但是 or 但 as you like， both are correct. It just depend on how many syllables you want to say.


---

