Difference between revisions of "Expressing "if… then…" with "yaoshi""

Revision as of 04:13, 11 November 2016

Level

B2 / HSK4
Level

B2
Level

HSK4
Similar to
Similar to
- Using "dui" with verbs (HSK2)
- Expressing "if" with "ruguo... dehua" (HSK3)
- Expressing "if... then..." with "ruguo... jiu..." (HSK3)
- Expressing "for…" with "eryan" (HSK5)
- Expressing "if… then…" with "jiaru" (HSK5)
- Expressing "what if" with "wanyi" (HSK5)
- Expressing "if… then…" with "jiashi" (HSK6)
Used for

Indicating conditions, Indicating cause and effect, Expressing possibility
Keywords

要是

"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.

Structure

要是 ……，就 ……

Examples

要是他不来，我们就走吧。If he doesn't come, we'll have to go.
你要是真想我，就给我打电话吧。If you really miss me, then give me a call.
要是我妈知道这件事，我就死定了!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。If the boss doesn't agree, we can't sign the contract with the client.
你要是再这么说，我就真生气了。If you keep talking this way, I'll get really mad.

Sources and further reading

Books

Common Chinese Patterns 330 (汉语常用格式330例) (pp. 246) →buy
Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 278) →buy
New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (pp. 41-2) →buy
40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课下册） (p. 502)→buy

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 </div>
-==Examples==
+== Examples ==
 <div class="liju">
-*<em>要是</em> 你 不去 上班 , 老板 <em>就</em> 会 解雇 你!<span class="trans">If you don't go to work, your boss will fire you!</span>
-*<em>要是</em> 我 不 现在 开始 工作， 我 <em>就</em> 不 能 按时 完成。<span class="trans">If I don't start this work now, there's no way I'll be able to finish it on time.</span>
 *<em>要是</em> 他 不 来，我们 <em>就</em> 走 吧。<span class="trans">If he doesn't come, we'll have to go.</span>
+*你 <em>要是</em> 真 想 我，<em>就</em> 给 我 打 电话 吧。<span class="trans">If you really miss me, then give me a call.</span>
+*<em>要是</em> 我妈 知道 这 件 事，我 <em>就</em> 死 定了!<span class="trans">If my mother knew about this, I would be so dead.</span>
+*<em>要是</em> 老板 不 同意，我们 <em>就</em> 不 能 跟 客户 签 合同。<span class="trans">If the boss doesn't agree,  we can't sign the contract with the client.</span>
+*你 <em>要是</em> 再 这么 说， 我 <em>就</em> 真 生气 了。<span class="trans">If you keep talking this way, I'll get really mad.</span>
 </div>