Expressing "if" with "ruguo... dehua"

"如果⋯⋯的话，⋯⋯" (rúguǒ... de huà, ...) is a pattern commonly used in Chinese to express "if". An easy way to remember the pattern's format is that in the full form, the condition is "sandwiched" between 如果 and 的话.

An important thing to note is that 如果 can be switched out for the various other terms for "if", including the common 要是 (yàoshi) and the formal 假如 (jiǎrú), among others. Also, keep in mind that the 的话 at the end is optional, and even the leading "if" word is optional! Context makes a huge difference.

Examples

• 如果 你 有 空 的话，我们 可以 明天 晚上 看 电影。If you have time, we can go see a movie tomorrow night.
• 如果 不 是 你 教 他 的话，他 是 不 会 通过 考试 的。If you don't teach him, he won't pass the test.
• 如果 你 不 来 的话，老师 会 很 失望。If you don't come, the teacher will be disappointed.

See also

• "If…, then…" with "ruguo…, jiu…"
• Marking a Topic with "de hua"
• "If… Then…" with "yaoshi"
• "Only if" with "zhiyou"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 280) →buy

Websties

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