Expressing “Sooner or Later” with “zǎowǎn”
早晚
How it works
早晚 (zǎowǎn) literally means “morning and evening,” but as an adverb it means “sooner or later.” It is used when the speaker believes that something will inevitably happen, though the exact time is uncertain.
It can be neutral, but it often appears in warnings, predictions, or firm judgments.
Example sentences
如果一直这样拖下去，问题早晚会发展到无法收拾的地步。
If this keeps dragging on, sooner or later the problem will become unmanageable.
真正有价值的努力，也许不会立刻见效，但早晚会在某个时刻显现出来。
Effort of real value may not show results immediately, but sooner or later it will reveal itself at some point.
一个人如果总是不愿意面对现实，早晚会因为逃避而付出更大的代价。
If a person is always unwilling to face reality, sooner or later he will pay a greater price because of avoidance.
Key point
早晚 (zǎowǎn) often carries a sense of inevitability and is especially common in prediction or warning.