Marking a topic with "de hua"

You probably already know that 的话 (de huà) can be put at the end of a phrase to express the meaning of "if." It can be used independently, or with 如果, both meaning "if." But it can also be used to simply identify a topic, sort of like saying "when it comes to...."

Structure

的话 can also be used to introduce a topic which the speaker intends to say more about.

Topic + 的话 ，Comment

Examples

• 北京 的话，秋天 去 最好 。As for Beijing, autumn is the best time to go.
• 晚上 的话，当然 方便 啦 。The evening? Of course that's convenient.
• 这个 问题 的话，我 不 太 方便 说 。As for this question, it's not convenient for me to talk about it.
• 我 肯定 能 去 。 他 的话 ，我 就 不知道 了。I can definitely go. As for him though, I don't know.
• 我们 的 要求 比较 高 。具体 来说 的话 ，有 三 个 方面 。Our requirement is quite high. Specifically, there are three aspects.

See also

• "If…, then…" with "ruguo…, jiu…"
• "For…" with "eryan"
• Limiting scope with "jiu"

Sources and further reading

Websties

• Chinesegrammar.info: Chinese grammar de hua (的话): expressing “if” in Chinese with de hua

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