Marking a topic with "de hua"

Level

B2 / HSK5
Level

B2
Level

HSK5
Similar to
- Expressing "if" with "ruguo... dehua" (B1)
- Topic-comment sentences (B1)
- Expressing "with regards to" with "zhiyu" (B2)
- Limiting scope with "jiu" (B2)
- Marking a topic with "ma" (B2)
Similar to
- Topic-comment sentences (HSK0)
- Expressing "if" with "ruguo... dehua" (HSK3)
- Expressing "with regards to" with "zhiyu" (HSK5)
- Limiting scope with "jiu" (HSK5)
- Marking a topic with "ma" (HSK5)
Used for

Marking a topic
Keywords

的话

的话 (de huà) is a particle that can be put at the end of a phrase to express a condition, a little bit like "if". It can be used independently, or with 如果, both meaning "if".

Structure

(如果) + [situation] + 的话 + [outcome]

如果你去的话，帮我跟她问好。
下次有时间的话，一定要找我玩儿。
如果你不忙的话，可以帮我联系客户吗？

的话 can also be used to introduce a topic which the speaker wants to go on and comment on:

云南的话，春天去最好。
晚上的话，当然方便啦。
我肯定能去，他的话，我就不知道了。
你们放心去吧，这里的话，就交给我了。

Marking a topic with "de hua"

Structure

See also