Expressing "in this way" with "zheyang"

这样 (zhèyàng) is used at the beginning of a phrase to express "this way" or "in this way."

Common Use of 这样

This use of 这样 corresponds to "this way," another way of expressing "so that."

Structure

Condition, 这样 + Result / Purpose

Examples

• 我们 还是 坐 地铁 吧， 这样 更 方便。Wǒmen háishì zuò dìtiě ba, zhèyàng gèng fāngbiàn. We'd better take the metro. It's more convenient this way.
• 你 要 多 吃 蔬菜，这样 对 身体 更 好。Nǐ yào duō chī shūcài, zhèyàng duì shēntǐ hǎo. You should eat more vegetables. It's better for your body this way.
• 你 要 多 说，只有 这样 才 能 练习 口语。Nǐ yào duō shuō, zhǐyǒu zhèyàng cái néng liànxí kǒuyǔ. You need to speak more. Only this way can you practice speaking Chinese.
• 你 要 让 他 自己 做，只有 这样 他 才 知道 怎么 做。Nǐ yào ràng tā zìjǐ zuò, zhǐyǒu zhèyàng tā cái zhīdào zěnme zuò. You should let him do it by himself. Only in this way can he know how to do it.

Using 这样的话 to Mean "if This Is the Case"

This use of 这样 corresponds to "this way," as in if we do it this way, the 的话 giving the pattern more of an "if" flavor.

Structure

To make the "if" even more explicit, you can even add 如果是 before 这样.

（如果是 + ）这样的话，……

Examples

• 这样 的话，你 还 怕 什么 呢？Zhèyàng de huà, nǐ hái pà shénme ne?What are you afraid of in this case?
• 如果 是 这样 的话，我 觉得 你们 需要 更多 的 帮助。Rúguǒ shì dehuà zhèyàng de huà, wǒ juéde nǐmen xūyào gèng duō de bāngzhù.If this is the case, I think you need to get more help.
• 如果 不 是 这样 的话，那 你 为什么 生 我 的 气？Rúguǒ bù shìzhèyàng de huà, nǐ wèishénme shēng wǒ de qì?If this is not the case, then why are you mad at me?
• 如果 不 是 这样 的话，你 还 有 什么 更 好 的 解释？Rúguǒ bù shìzhèyàng de huà, nǐ hái yǒu shénme gèng hǎo de jiěshì?If this is not the case, do you have a better explanation?

See also

• The "zui" superlative
• Expressing "excessively" with "tai"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Short-term Spoken Chinese: Elementary (汉语口语速成基础篇) (pp. 15) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (pp. 71 - 2) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (pp. 103) →buy