ра́зве

common #336B1

1.
really?, surely not?, is it true that...?
Ра́зве ты ещё не защити́л диссерта́цию?
Have you really not defended your thesis yet?
Opens a question in which the speaker doubts or is surprised by what has been said; often best rendered by intonation plus 'really' or 'surely'.
2.
perhaps, maybe, what if
Ра́зве попроси́ть его о по́мощи?
Perhaps I should ask him for help?
Colloquial, usually with an infinitive or a future form: the speaker weighs up an idea.
3.
only, except (maybe), at most
Он ничего не ест, ра́зве что немного су́па.
He eats nothing except maybe a bit of soup.
Normally in the combinations 'разве что', 'разве только'.
4.
(rare) unless
Я непреме́нно э́то сде́лаю, ра́зве заболе́ю.
I will certainly do it unless I fall ill.
Bookish; also as 'разве что'.

Examples

Rhetorical/surprised questions
- ра́зве не ...?
  isn't it ...?; surely ...?
- ра́зве ...?
  really ...?; is it even ...?
- ра́зве мо́жно ...?
  is it even allowed/okay to ...?
- ра́зве не так?
  isn't that so?
Exceptions and qualifications (razve chto)
- ра́зве что + ...
  except (for) ...; only ...
- ра́зве что + инф.
  the only thing is to ...; at most to ...
- ра́зве что е́сли ...
  only if ...; unless ...
- не ..., ра́зве что ...
  no ..., except ...
Emphatic denial/counterfactual (with by)
- ра́зве бы ...?
  as if ... would ...
- Да ра́зве бы ...!
  come on, as if ... would ever ...