Comparative analysis of parataxis in conditionals and unconditionals as exemplified in Chinese and Russian

Dudanov Timofey Vasil'evich ORCID: 0009-0007-1747-9440 Postgraduate student; Department of Oriental Languages; Russian State University for the Humanities 125047, Russia, Moscow, Miusskaya, 6 tdudanov@mail.ru Other publications by this author

Introduction

In conditional sentences, one part indicates a condition, and the second part indicates a result or consequence. The number of prototypical conditional constructions can include complex sentences represented by the conditional union "if" and other unions close in meaning ^{[1, pp. 13-15]}.

Nevertheless, the condition can be marked not only by conjunctions, but also by other parts of speech, that is, it can be expressed paratactically. The meaning in this case depends on the context and the function performed in a particular statement. It is precisely this method of constructing conditional sentences that is considered in this article.

In Chinese, there are also paratactic ways to formalize a condition, see, for example, ^{[2, p. 368]}.

When selecting the material, we focused not only on such concepts as condition, but also on such terms as hypothetical (assumption, presumptiveness) and opposition. The choice of the concept of "hypothetical" is due to the fact that the Chinese conjunction 如果 rúguŏ (if), which is the most frequent in Chinese, indicates this meaning, and in Russian the condition itself often contains an assumption. The concept of "opposition" is considered in the context of the absence of a condition capable of influencing the result — unconditionality. In addition, this value is represented through a conditional sentence ^{[3, p. 87]}.

Thus, this article compares the paratactic design of the condition and the unconditionality based on the material of the Chinese and Russian languages. In total, there are 5 ways of expression with one or more options for indicating the condition and unconditionality, as well as special cases of expressing these values that are not included in any of the groups.

The value is 1. Exclusivity

Chinese language

Adverb 必/须/必须 b a/x a/b a x a (must)

Adverb 必/须/必须 bì/xū/bìxū (must) as an indicator of the condition, it was mentioned by Liu Shuxian. It is among the words that convey the real necessary condition. If the condition is passed in the first part of such sentences, then the time is passed in the second part ^{[4, p. 98]}; ^{[4, p. 156]}. Later, Wang Li added that the adverb 必 bì (must) is used to convey the contracted form of the condition. The conjugated form is a sentence with a clear structure that does not contain phrasal pauses and where predicates form a valence with the same subject ^{[2, p. 114]}.

Nevertheless, the use of the adverb is also confirmed in modern Chinese. Zhang Bin spoke about the use of 必须 bìxū (must) to express a necessary condition. He put this word on a par with the connectives 只有 zhyǒu (if only) and 除非 chúfēi (if only) ^{[5, p. 488]}:

1)

It is necessary ("If only") to find yourself in that touching environment, only then can you understand that deep impression. (Lin Huiyin. Our capital)

Adverbs 只 zh ĭ (only) and 偏/偏偏 pi a n/pi a npi a n (only, contrary to)

Li Jinxi placed the adverbs 只 zhĭ (only) and 偏/偏偏 piān/piānpiān (only, in spite of) on a par with the conjunction 但是 dànshì (but) and referred them to opposable conjunctions ^{[6, p. 280]}. If the conjunction 但是 dànshì (but) serves to enhance the meaning, then 只zhĭ (only) — to mitigate it, and 偏 piān (only, contrary to) in turn indicates the expectation of the situation, therefore 偏 piān, in addition to the meaning "only", has the meaning "contrary to (expectations)" ^{[4, p. 36]}. Thus, both words indicate the unconditionality, that is, the immutability of the result regardless of the condition.

In modern language, the adverb 只 zhĭ (only) is most often combined with other words to express a condition. For example, 只 zhĭ (only) is part of the adverb 只是 zhĭshì (only), which just indicates the impossibility of the condition influencing the result ^{[7, p. 56]}:

2)

Our children and grandchildren from ancient peoples living on loess deposits are as sincere to the depths of their souls as the Don Cossacks. They (despite all this) differ only in moral qualities, and that's all. (Chen Zhongshu. Uncle Ma Lo)

If we talk about the adverb 偏/偏偏 piān/piānpiān (only, contrary to), the meaning of "only" is only the word 偏偏 piānpiān. The meaning of "contrary" is both piānpiān and piān ^{[7, pp. 428-429]}.

3)

He can be active and show me the hieroglyphs, ... but I, contrary to his expectations ("despite his expectations"), will not rush into it. (Jia Pingwa. Li Xianghu)

4)

He himself was going to tell his wife about his bitterness, only ("despite expectations") I didn't have the courage. (Zhang Hengshui. The cute ones swear — they just amuse themselves)

Preposition 除 ch ú (except)

The preposition 除 chú (except) is also one of those used in conditional sentences. This word forms a condition in the construction 除（））............ chú (le)... wài (not counting) ^{[4, p. 166]}. Wang Li puts it on a par with the union 除非 chúfēi (if only) ^{[2, p. 369]}:

5)

In addition to the usual propaganda for the restoration of the old order (int. "if you do not take into account the usual propaganda for the restoration of the old order"), the publication also contains many articles denigrating young students. (Lu Xin. Reply to Mr. KS)

6)

Besides the fact that the senior secretary is a member of the history drafting committee without a title (int. "Except that the senior secretary is an empty-headed member of the history drafting committee"), he is actually only a professor at Fuxing College. (Wang Ho. War and people)

Russian language

In Russian, the verb "worth" can serve as an analogue for the adverb 必须 bìxū (should). According to the dictionary of S. I. Ozhegov, he indicates the requirement to implement something or the presence of meaning in the commission of an action ^{[8, p. 768]}. E. M. Galkina-Fedoruk, in turn, argues that "cost" is used in an impersonal form and is placed after the infinitive to indicate conditionally temporary or conditionally investigative relations ^{[9, p. 347]}; ^{[9, p. 409]}:

7) It is worth taking a pause, and the hubbub will fill it again. (V. G. Rasputin. A new profession) = If you just pause, it will be filled with hubbub again.

In addition, the Russian language also contains analogues of the adverbs 只 zhĭ (only) and 偏/偏偏 piān/piānpiān (only, contrary to). In Russian, the words "only" and "only" are used to express a similar meaning. Ozhegov's dictionary speaks of the proximity of "only" to the word "but" ^{[8, p. 330]}; ^{[8, p. 802]}.

8) — Imagine, I was thinking about the same thing now, just not in those words. (I. Grekova. On trials) = Imagine, I was thinking about the same thing now, but despite the fact that I was thinking about it, I still thought about it in the wrong words.

9) The guards are all in sheepskin coats, only six in sheepskin coats. (Alexander Solzhenitsyn. One day of Ivan Denisovich) = The guards are all in sheepskin coats, but despite this, six are in sheepskin coats.

Additionally, "only" and "only" can also be used as particles to indicate a limitation. In combination with some categories of words, they form exclusively conditional relations: for example, in a phrase with the preposition "at" and a noun or in the adverbial turnover ^{[10, p. 118]}; ^{[10, p. 158]}:

10) It was only at the memory of Gita that his heart contracted. (A. P. Ladinsky. The last journey of Vladimir Monomakh) = If he only thought about Gita, his heart would shrink.

11) Austria generally holds on only with the help of Germany. (N. A. Ostrovsky. Born of the Storm) = Austria is generally holding out, if only it relies on German help.

12) After all, such courts sometimes need witnesses who publicly betray others, only ruining themselves — that is, through their own corpse. (Yu. O. Dombrovsky. Faculty of Unnecessary things) = After all, such courts sometimes need witnesses who publicly betray others, if only they ruin themselves — that is, over their own dead body.

13) It is only by getting so close to geniuses that you begin to truly appreciate ordinary people. (Y. M. Nagibin. Three and one and one more) = If you only get so close to geniuses, you start to really appreciate ordinary people.

Value 2. Changing the situation

Chinese language

Numeral 一 y ì/y í (one)

The numeral yì/yí (one) indicates temporal immediacy, but at the same time has the meaning of hypotheticism, and when pointing to the future, this hypotheticism manifests itself even more strongly. In this case, the word acquires the meaning "it is worth only", "if only" ^{[4, pp. 143-144]}.

In modern language, the numeral 一 yì/yí (one) occurs in combination with the correlate 就 jiù (that). The presence of the condition, for example, is confirmed by Xing Fui, which allows the addition of other elements to the construction............. yì/yí... jiù... (as soon as..., then), for example, the conditional union 只要 zhǐyào (if only) ^{[11, p. 266]}; ^{[11, p. 521]}:

14)

As soon as you disappear from the field of view of your father, you immediately stop studying. (Mo Yan. The cellar of the sandal master)

15)

But Mom and Dad were running around the street all day. As soon as they met him, they warmly welcomed him. (Zhang Wei. On the plateau)

Constructions of 越.................................................

Constructions 越............ yuè... yuè... (the..., the...) and the written version 愈............. yù... yù... (the..., the...) Liu Shuxiang refers to the number of proportional proposals. These are sentences in which both parts indicate a change and the presence of mutual relations, that is, in fact, the construction "If A changes, then B changes" is obtained ^{[4, p. 74]}. According to Wang Li, in the context of the assumption, they acquire a conditional meaning ^{[2, p. 73] [12, p. 217]}. The constructions 越............ yuè... yuè... and 愈............ yù... yù... (the..., the...) are also among the conjugated sentences and are used in the same way as the conjunction 只要 zhĭyào (worth only), indicating a sufficient condition ^{[5, p. 506] [11, p. 104]}; ^{[11, p. 378]}:

16)

The more all four cry, the more upset they get... (int. "As soon as they cry more, they get even more upset.") (Yu Hua. Live)

17)

The more we drink cold water here, the more our temperature rises. (int. "As soon as we drink more cold water, we get colds more and more.") (Liu Baiyu. The second sun)

Adverb 再 z à i (more)

According to Li Jinxi, the adverb 再 zài (more) is used in a number of constructions to express an assumption. It is found in such constructions as 再............. zài... yuèf... (the..., the...), and再............ zài... nà... (if again... then...) ^{[6, p. 312]}. Wang Li also refers a sentence with the adverb 再 zài (more) to one of the types of conditional sentences ^{[2, p. 73]}:

18)

Next time, the more you (int. "if you will be more") beg, the less you (int. "then you won't get any more"). (Zhang Ailing. Shackles)

19)

Yue Rong blushed and laughed, "(If) I keep eating, I'll become a glutton!" (Zhang Hengshui. Deep pit at night)

The most generalized picture of the use of the adverb 再 zài (yet) was given by Zhang Bin. In his opinion, it is also used in conjugated sentences. The adverb 再 zài (more) in such sentences is ambiguous. When used alone, it becomes similar in meaning to the conjunction 如果 rúguŏ (if) and thereby acquires the meaning of an assumption, and when used in conjunction with the adverb 也 yě (still), the adverb resembles the conjunction 即使 jíshĭ (even if) and thereby acquires the meaning of unconditionality ^{[5, pp. 504-508]}:

20)

If you do not buy, it is unknown how much the price will rise. (Zhang Ping. Choice)

21)

Even if you get in a bad mood again, can't you do that? (Jia Pingwa. The former capital)

Additionally, the paired construction 再............ zài... yĕ... (even if..., anyway...) can express the degree of action when placing an adjective between two adverbs:

22)

No matter how fierce the dog is, it's still afraid of me. (Yu Hua. Screams in the drizzling rain)

The last role is played by the design 再......也...... zài... yĕ... (even if... anyway...) is the role of comparison. Wu Song's article says that in this construction, the repeated use of the adjective is allowed, followed by the negative adverb 不 bù/bú (not) and an additional element of the possibility of 过 guò (to overcome, overtake). Thus, the construction A + 再 + adj. + 也 + adj. + 不过 + B ^{[13, p. 86]}:

23)

That fellow from the Qiao family is no match for you in how mischievous he is (int. "Even if he is not naughty, he does not surpass you in the degree of disobedience.") (Zhang Ailing. The first censer with the scent of eagle wood)

Russian language

The analog of the numeral yì/yí (one) and the adverb zài (more) in Russian is the word "one". It can be used in combination with the compositional conjunction "and" ^[14]:

24) One word, and everything will be your way. (Bulat Okudzhava. Brand new as a pin) = If you just say one word, everything will be your way.

25) Another minute, and Yesenin stands on a chair and, gesturing, reads his short poems. (M. M. Zoshchenko. Before sunrise) = If another minute passes, Yesenin stands on a chair and, gesturing, reads his short poems.

To indicate a comparison, the phrases "in comparison with" and "in comparison with" can be used, which also indicate the condition ^{[10, p. 121]}; ^{[10, p. 130]}:

26) In comparison with us, they are like three heroes from a painting by the famous artist Vasnetsov. (Arkady Lvov. The yard) = If you compare them with us, they are like three heroes from a painting by the famous artist Vasnetsov.

27) Compared to other losses, this was not the most important, but for some reason painful and incomprehensible, and something in him did not want to put up with it. (Valentin Rasputin. Live and remember) = If compared with other losses, this one was not the most important, but for some reason painful and incomprehensible, and something in him did not want to put up with it.

As Chinese designs 越......越...... yuè... yuè... and 愈......愈...... yù yù...... (what... the...), then in the Russian language the increase of the degree of happens when you add the particle "with" to the verbal noun, indicating development and change ^{[10, p. 125-126]}:

28) With the growth of aggression, changes occur in his brain and even his limbs begin to twitch ... (E. V. Kolina. Diary of infidelity) = If aggression grows in his brain, then changes occur and even limbs begin to twitch…

Value 3. Time

Chinese language

Particle 了 le

Li Jinxi also gave examples with the aspectual particle 了 le as an indicator of hypotheticism. These include examples with the statement of 了 le both in the subordinate and main parts ^{[6, p. 312]}. The fact of conditionality in the c 了 le sentence was subsequently confirmed by Wang Li. In this case, the assumption and the future are mixed. If we use the particle 了 le in a dependent (conditional) clause, then this will mean the completion of the condition for the completion of an event ^{[2, p. 162]}:

29)

(If) she prepares the money today (then) and goes to pay off. (Yan Geling. The criminal Lu Yanshi)

The particle 了 le can come both after the verb and at the end of the conditional part. In the first case, it indicates completeness (glossed as PFV — perfective), and in the second — a change in state (glossed as MOD — modality) ^{[15, p. 380]}:

30)

If you get married, don't hit your husband. (Su Qing. The beauty is on the wrong track)

31)

In the future (if) Lizi goes to university, (then) the true correction of names will begin. (Liu Xinglong. Walking in the sky)

Adverb 早 z ă o (long ago)

The adverb 早 zăo (long ago) indicates to a greater extent an unrealistic condition. Wang Li cites the phrase "zăo zhī" as an example (I knew it a long time ago, if I had known) ^{[12, p. 61]}. It is this combination that always indicates a hypothetical condition.

The adverb 早 zăo (long ago) can be placed both in the first and in the second part ^{[17, p. 35]}:

32)

If I had known that everything would happen like this, Xuan Xiang and I would not have gotten into trouble. (Xu Xingye. A golden bowl with a flaw)

33)

There is a limit to graduation from an educational institution. The sooner you finish ("If"), the sooner you devote yourself to life. (Zhang Hengshui. The northern goose flies south)

Noun: sh (time)

The noun shí (time when) is more often spoken about when it comes to temporary constructions and most often in a sentence it is translated as "when", however, it can also carry a conditional or hypothetical connotation and acquire the meaning "if" ^{[6, p. 293]}. In this case, the noun a shí (time when) indicates a lower probability of committing an action ^{[2, pp. 72-73]}. V. I. Gorelov separately considered complex conditional-temporal sentences with the conjunction 如果 rúguŏ (if) and the noun a shí (time), as a result of which a union unity is formed............ rúguŏ... shí, ... (in case) ^{[17, pp. 221-222]}. At the same time, conjunctions conveying a condition, hypotheticism and unconditionality may be omitted in the sentence ^{[7, p. 469]}. Thus, the noun a shí (the time when) can also be used to express a condition:

34)

When (If) Lao Chu talks to you so brazenly and hypocritically, doesn't he want something from you? (Li Zhun. The Yellow River flows east)

Adverb 每 měi (each)

According to Liu Shuxiang, a conditional relationship, unlike a temporary one, is expressed when two events do not coincidentally coincide or mismatch. As an example, he cites sentences with the adverb 每 měi (each) ^{[4, p. 143]}.

However, 每 měi (everyone) can express the condition in modern language in such expressions as 每当（一）měi dāng (yì/yí) and 每逢（一）měi féng (yì/yí) (every time/in all cases if). They point to a recurring phenomenon that acts as a generalized rule ^{[11, pp. 283-284]}:

35)

Every time/In all cases, if a piglet is born, both the magpie and she laughs. (Ge Fei. The Jiangnan Trilogy)

36)

Every time/In all cases, if the performance ends, she waits for Wang Qing to escort her home. (Lao She. Storytellers)

Russian language

In Russian, the temporal and conditional meanings in a sentence can also overlap. E. V. Uryson, citing "when" and "if" as examples, spoke about the possibility of their interchangeability in a number of contexts ^{[3, pp. 12-13]}. However, in this case we are talking about unions, which is not relevant to the topic of this article.

Nevertheless, if we talk about an unrealistic condition, then in the Russian language there are ways of expressing it, like the adverb 早 zăo (long ago) in Chinese. In Russian, the indicator of an unrealistic condition is the particle "by"/"b", which expresses the subjunctive mood.

37) A woman who dropped a jug of milk would have gasped like that: "Oh!" (Yuri Koval. Listoboy) = (If this had happened,) That's how a woman who dropped a jug of milk would gasp: "Oh!"

38) I was already thinking: it would be better if he left, and I would wash myself. (Vera Belousova. The second shot) = I was already thinking: if he had left, I would have been glad.

Additionally, to express an unrealistic condition, an extra-paradigmatic indirect form of the imperative mood (imperative) in the form of the 2nd person singular can be used ^{[18, pp. 226-227]}; ^{[18, p. 234]}:

39) If the assembly had been on Ivanko's side, he would certainly have used this circumstance in his further efforts. (Vladimir Voinovich. Ivankiada, or the story of the writer Voinovich's move into a new apartment) = If the meeting had been on Ivanko's side, he would certainly have used this circumstance in his further efforts.

Value 4. Arbitrariness and uncertainty

Chinese language

Arbitrariness and uncertainty can be formed due to the non-interrogative use of interrogative pronouns. Zhang Bin distinguished three ways of their non-interrogative use: arbitrary, falsely defined and indefinite ^{[5, p. 321]}. The most interesting thing in this article is the arbitrary and indefinite use of interrogative pronouns, since they contain the meanings of condition and unconditionality.

The Soviet linguist V. I. Gorelov attributed pronouns with arbitrary use to indefinite pronouns ^{[17, pp. 20-21]}. Presumably, this is done for the convenience of orientation by Russian speakers starting to learn Chinese in the material under consideration.

L. Cheng and A. Giannakidou, speaking about the arbitrary use of interrogative pronouns, identified the components of free choice that are necessary to convey unconditionality: 哪 nǎ (which of) and 什么 shénme (what) ^{[19, p. 1]}; ^{[19, p. 15]}:

40)

There wasn't a single moment that made her as furious as this one. (int. "No matter what kind of moment it was, it didn't make her as furious as this one.") (Lao She. The train is on fire)

41)

As soon as this woman sits down at the doorstep, all scandals will stop (int. "No matter what kind of scandal it was, it will stop anyway.") (Yu Hua. How Xu Sanguan sold blood)

In addition to interrogative pronouns 哪 nǎ (which) and shénme 什么 (what), these sentences are acceptable, and other interrogative pronouns: for example, 谁 shéi (who), 哪儿 năr (where, where), 怎么 zěnme (as) ^{[20, p. 291]}:

42)

The child is not going anywhere. Tell him to feed the pigeons. (Wang Zhengqi. Eight thousand years)

43)

I don't make decisions. As you wish (int. "It doesn't matter how you want to"), so do it. (Zhou Gopin. Whining)

In sentences with indefinite use, interrogative pronouns indicate a condition. Li Jinxi also spoke about the role of the indefinite pronoun 谁 shéi (who) in the conditional sentence in the construction "who..., that..." ^{[6, p. 232]}:

44)

Whoever (If anyone) does not want to fork out, let him go to Haley. (Chen Zhongshi. Bridge)

In addition, in this type of sentence, the repetition of the interrogative pronoun in the main part is allowed. This happens not only with the pronoun 谁 shéi (who), but also with other interrogative pronouns, as is the case with arbitrary usage. In this case, the word in the subordinate clause has an indefinite meaning, and the second one has a definite meaning ^{[2, p. 247]}. Such constructions are constricted and serve to express a hypothetical condition ^{[9, p. 507]}.

L. Cheng and K. T. James Huang classify interrogative pronouns as anaphoric (pointing to the preceding word and referring to what was previously said). They serve to convey the zero condition, in the interpretation of which we point to the universality of situations ^{[21, p. 127]}; ^{[21, p. 153]}; ^{[21, p. 159]}:

45)

The person who wanted to buy a tumbler pushed all the tumblers together and decided that which (int. "if any") of them would rise first of all, he would buy one. (Xiao Hong. The Legend of the Hulan River)

In this sentence, the same interrogative pronoun has a different meaning in the sentence. In sentence 46, one 哪 nǎ has an arbitrary meaning "which of/which of", and the second 哪 nǎ has a certain meaning "such".

Russian language

In Russian, interrogative pronouns are not used to convey unconditionality. Relative and correlative pronouns are used for this purpose. When using relative pronouns, an indication is given to the defined persons or objects, and correlative pronouns are words with their antecedent (preceding word) (for example: "that", "such", etc.).

In the Russian language, universal conditionally concessive constructions are used. They are marked with the help of a relative pronoun and the strengthening of the negation of the verb with the help of the particle "ni" ^{[22, p. 605]}. Relative pronouns include the words "who", "what", "how", "how much" and others:

46) Whoever came from the battery, Leontiev, by the word and not by the word, scolded the hard-labor clerical life: "It's better to go to the front line than to work here. (G. Ya. Baklanov. South of the main strike) = Even if someone came from the battery, Leontiev, by the way and not by the word, scolded the hard-labor clerical life: "It's better to go to the front line than to work here.

47) No matter how many arrows point, there will always be "Guinness time", that is, time to wet your throat with dark Irish Guinness beer. (Vasily Aksenov. Love of electricity) = No matter what the arrows indicate, there will always be "Guinness time", that is, time to soak your throat with dark Irish Guinness beer.

Relative constructions are used to indicate the indefinite use of pronouns. Relative pronouns are used in the first part, and relative pronouns are used in the second part.

48) Whoever determines the measure of non-existence will give people the best remedy for the fear of death. (Fazil Iskander. My idol) = If someone determines the measure of non-existence, then this person will give people the best remedy for the fear of death.

Value 5. Negation

Chinese language

The condition can also be expressed by negation. For this purpose, the negative adverbs 不 bù/bú, 没 méi, 非 fēi (not) are used.

Li Jinxi spoke about the reduplicated use of the adverb 不 bù/bú (not), which forms the construction 不.............. bù/bú... bù/bú... (not ..., not...). Along with the reduplicated construction, the phrase 非......不......... fēi... bù (kě) is also used... (without... it is impossible...). Both constructions represent a simplified version of the sentence with the conjunction 若 ruò (if) ^{[6, p. 138]}. And, according to Liu Shuxiang, the constructions of 不.............. bù/bú... bù/bú..., 非........................................ (no... not...), and also provide them with an expression 没......不...... méi..., bù/suck... (not..., not...) transmit negative a necessary condition, which contains the instruction to be bound by the action ^{[4, p. 157-158]}.

Wang Li attributed a similar construction to one of those that expresses the condition in the sentence ^{[2, p. 73]}.

49)

(If) If you don't upset a person, (then) you won't get a joke. (Wang Lenfo. Chun Eshi)

50)

If they haven't entered, they can't count... (Sima Zhongyuan. Dust storm)

51)

An air defense guard so careless cannot fail to report everything to his superiors (int. "If he does not report to his superiors, it will be unacceptable"!) (Wei Wei. East)

To convey negation, it is also possible to reduplicate a predicate (expressed by an adjective or noun) in a sentence that is broken by the adverb 不 bù/bú (not). Thus, a modified form of assumption is obtained, and the resulting construction is translated as "even if we assume" ^{[2, p. 312] [12, p. 349-351]}:

52)

The skin on the face was speckled and uneven, although rather not speckled and smooth (int. "even if we assume that it was speckled, it was still not speckled; even if we assume that it was uneven, it was still smooth.") (Xiang Kaizhan. An unofficial history of international students in Japan)

53)

Chaos is happening everywhere, a new homeland or country will appear soon, although it may not appear (int. "even if we assume that a new homeland will appear, it still will not appear; even if we assume that a new country will appear, it still will not appear.") (Lu Xin. Collection "Just like that")

When using the adverb bú (shì) (not), it is also allowed to put the adverb jiù (shì) (that) in the second part of the sentence. Thus, the construction is obtained ............... bú (shì)... jiù (shì) ... (if not... then...). When using the adverb 非 fēi (not), the adverb 即 jí (that) is put in the second part and the construction 非............. fēi... jí... (if not..., then...) is obtained. Li Jinxi carry them to the world of alternative abolishing unions that point to the contradiction between hypothetically and consequence of ^{[6, p. 274]}, and Lu Susan also include design 不是......就（是） suck (Shi)... jiù (Shi) ... (if not..., then...) to the number of negative conditional structures ^{[4, p. 157]}. In this case, the proposal contains an indication of an indefinite choice ^{[20, p. 362]}:

54)

But that man had already forgotten about her. If she didn't answer the phone, then at least she tried to respond somehow. (Wang Sho. The essence of the game is the flutter of the heart)

55)

If no one from the elderly and children from Yanerzhuang knows how to launch firecrackers, then this is, if not cruel, then stupid. (Feng Jicai. Let's launch paired firecrackers)

In addition, it is worth mentioning the special construction of 爱 ài + ch. + 不 bù/bú + ch. ("do it if you want, don't do it if you want"). It is also included in the number of condensed sentences and indicates a free choice. In fact, this construction contains two hypothetical sentences: "if ... then ..." and "if not ... then not ...". Sometimes this construction conveys a negative connotation ^{[23, p. 176]}:

56)

This phrase is probably too difficult to understand. I don't care! If you understand, then you understand; if you don't understand, then you don't understand. (Lao She. My life)

Russian language

In Russian, negation with the help of a condition is possible due to the preposition "without" ^{[24, p. 105]}. It indicates the condition for the occurrence of an event, the absence of which determines the impossibility of action. In this case, the predicate has a negative form or stands in the form of a passive ^{[10, p. 122]}:

57) I can't take a step without such doubts. (Yu. O. Dombrovsky. Faculty of Unnecessary things) = If there are no such doubts, I can't take a step.

In addition, it is allowed to use the particle "no", which is used in a sentence with non-verbal structures ^{[10, p. 142]}:

58) No lessons, no twos, and the problem is solved! (Simon Soloveitchik. The Seven Winds Gang) = If there are no lessons, then there are no twos, and the problem is solved!

59) Difficult situation! No ticket, no boat. (Yuri Druzhkov (Postnikov). The adventures of Pencil and Samodelkin) = A difficult situation! If there is no ticket, then there is no boat.

Conclusion

The conducted research allowed us to discover non-standard ways of conveying the expression of a condition without using well-known markers of conditional and unconditional adjuncts, that is, conjunctions. Despite the fact that only one example was selected for each case in both Chinese and Russian, these examples managed to clearly reflect the conditional and unconditional context. An important role was played by the interpretation of examples of sentences in two languages, thanks to which it was clearly shown what the sentences would look like with a prototypical design of the condition.

The material can be useful for linguists as well as for students of Chinese or Russian as a foreign language. It becomes possible to use a variety of lexical means to convey meaning in the process of verbal communication, both in written and oral form.

List of abbreviations

PTCL — particle

LOC is a spatial postposition

RES — an additional element indicating the result

COP bundle

PRG is an indicator of the present moment of the action

BA is an indicator of the statement of the complement before the verb

CL is a counting word

PFV is a productive particle

VEN is an additional element of the direction of movement to the speaker

MOD is a modal particle

IT is an additional element of the direction of movement from the speaker

INT amplifier

COMPL — indicates the completion of the action

int. — interpreted as…