Expressing "if… then…" with "yaoshi"

要是⋯⋯，就⋯⋯ (yàoshi..., jiù...) is one of several ways to convey "If..., then..." It is very similar to 如果..., 就... in usage and formality. However, it is important to note that 要是 is considered to be even more informal (and is usually left more to spoken Chinese) than the common 如果 and used more frequently in the northern areas of China.

Affirmative Form

Structure

要是 + Subj. ⋯⋯ ， 就 ⋯⋯

Note that the subject can also be placed before 要是. In this case, 要是 can be shortened as 要.

Examples

• 你 要是 真 想 我 ，就 给 我 打 电话 。Nǐ yàoshi zhēn xiǎng wǒ, jiù gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà.If you do miss me, then give me a call.
• 要是 我 妈 知道 这 件 事 ，我 就 死 定了 ! Yàoshi wǒ mā zhīdào zhè jiàn shì, wǒ jiù sǐ dìng le!If my mother knew about this, I would be so dead!
• 要是 老板 不 同意，我们 就 不 能 跟 客户 签 合同 。Yàoshi lǎobǎn bù tóngyì, wǒmen jiù bù néng gēn kèhù qiān hétóng.If the boss doesn't agree, then we can't sign the contract with the client.
• 你 要 再 说 ，我 真 生气 了 。Nǐ yào zàishuō, wǒ zhēn shēngqì le.If you keep talking that way, I'm really gonna get angry.
• 他 要 不 听 ，我 也 没 办法 。Tā yào bù tīng, wǒ yě méi bànfǎ.If he doesn't listen, there's nothing I can do about it.

Negative Form

要不是 is pretty much the same as the English saying "if it weren't for."

Structure

要不是 ⋯⋯ ，⋯⋯

Examples

• 要 不 是 他 求 我 ， 我 才 不 帮 你 呢 。Yàobùshì tā qiú wǒ, wǒ cái bù bāng nǐ ne.If it weren't because he begged me, I wouldn't be helping you.
• 要 不 是 因为 孩子 ，我 早就 离婚 了 。Yàobùshì yīnwèi háizi, wǒ zǎo jiù líhūn le.If it weren't for the sake of the kids, I would have gotten divorced long ago.
• 要 不 是 堵车 ，我 早就 到 了 。Yàobùshì dǔchē, wǒ zǎo jiù dào le.If it weren't for the traffic jam, I would have gotten here much sooner.
• 要 不 是 亲眼 看到 ，我 也 不 相信 。Yàobùshì qīnyǎn kàn dào, wǒ yě bù xiāngxìn.If I hadn't seen it for myself, I wouldn't believe it either.
• 要 不 是 你 提醒 我 ，我 肯定 忘 了 。Yàobùshì nǐ tíxǐng wǒ, wǒ kěndìng wàng le.If it weren't for your reminding me, I would have forgotten.

Colloquial Saying 要我说

Literally 要我说 means "if you ask for my opinion."

A few examples:

• 要我说 ，你 先 别 告诉 她 。Yào wǒ shuō, nǐ xiān bié gàosu tā.I say don't tell her yet.
• 要我说 ，他 就是 太 懒 。Yào wǒ shuō, tā jiù shì tài lǎn.I say he's just too lazy.
• 要我说 ，我们 应该 早点 做 准备 。Yào wǒ shuō, wǒmen yīnggāi zǎodiǎn zuò zhǔnbèi.In my opinion, we should get prepared sooner.
• 要我说 ，这个 人 不 能 信 。Yào wǒ shuō, zhège rén bù néng xìn.In my opinion, this man can't be trusted.
• 要我说 ，什么时候 开始 都 不 晚 。Yào wǒ shuō, shénme shíhou kāishǐ dōu bù wǎn.I say it's never too late to start.

See also

• "If…, then…" with "ruguo…, jiu…"
• "If… then…" with "jiaru"
• "If… then…" with "jiashi"

Sources and further reading

Books

• HSK Standard Course 4上 (pp. 85) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Common Chinese Patterns 330 (汉语常用格式330例) (pp. 246) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 278) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (pp. 41-2) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• 40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课下册） (pp. 502) [ →buy]

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