Expressing "if… then…" with "jiaru"

"假如⋯⋯，就⋯⋯" (jiǎrú..., jiù...) is yet another way to express "If..., then..." in Chinese, but it is much more formal than 要是 or 如果 are (in both written and spoken Chinese).

Structure

假如 + Statement + 就 + Result

Examples

• 假如 你 的 成绩 再 好 一点儿，你 就 能 申请 北大 了。Jiǎrú nǐ de chéngjì zài hǎo yīdiǎnr, nǐ jiù néng shēnqǐng BěiDà le.If your grades come up a little more, then you can apply to Beijing University.
• 假如 我 是 你，我 就 戒烟。Jiǎrú wǒ shì nǐ, wǒ jiù jièyān.If I were you, I would give up smoking.
• 假如 你 的 女朋友 不 爱 你，你们 就 分手 吧。Jiǎrú nǐ de nǚpéngyou bù ài nǐ, nǐmen jiù fēnshǒu ba.If your girlfriend doesn't love you, then you should break up.
• 假如 有 一点 机会，我 就 会 辞去 现在 的 工作。Jiǎrú yǒu yīdiǎn jīhuì, wǒ jiù huì cíqù xiànzài de gōngzuò.If I had the slightest chance, I would quit my job.
• 假如 这 话 是 真的，我们 也 要 考虑 两天。Jiǎrú zhè huà shì zhēnde, wǒmen yě yào kǎolǜ liǎngtiān.If that were true, we would have to think about it for a couple of days.
• 假如 一定 要 去 的话，她 就 去。Jiǎrú yīdìng yào qù dehuà, tā jiù qù.If you must go, she will go.
• 假如 我们 又 见面 了，你 还会 记得 我 吗？Jiǎrú wǒmen yòu jiànmiàn le, nǐ hái huì jìde wǒ ma?If we see each other again, will you still remember me?

See also

• "If…, then…" with "ruguo…, jiu…"
• "If… Then…" with "yaoshi"
• "If… Then…" with "jiashi"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Common Chinese Patterns 330 (汉语常用格式330例) (pp. 124) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 279) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy

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