HSK 7-9
视……而定
shì...ér dìng
Depends on...; to be determined by...
Structure
视 + [Factor/Condition] + 而定
How it works
This formal structure is used to indicate that an outcome, decision, or situation is contingent upon a specific factor or variable. It is commonly found in written Chinese, legal documents, and formal speeches to express dependency.
Examples
奖金的数额将视业绩而定。
Jiǎngjīn de shù'é jiāng shì yèjì ér dìng.
The amount of the bonus will be determined by performance.
手术的具体时间要视病人的身体状况而定。
Shǒushù de jùtǐ shíjiān yào shì bìngrén de shēntǐ zhuàngkuàng ér dìng.
The specific time of the surgery depends on the patient's physical condition.
录取与否，视考试成绩而定。
Lùqǔ yǔfǒu, shì kǎoshì chéngjì ér dìng.
Whether you are admitted or not depends on your exam results.
Common mistakes
Do not confuse this with '取决于' (qǔjué yú); while similar, '视……而定' is more likely to be used when there is a range of possible outcomes based on a sliding scale of conditions.
Tip
Think of '视' as 'to look at' and '定' as 'to decide'. The structure literally means 'look at [X] and then decide'.
More HSK 7-9 grammar
See 视……而定 in real Chinese
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