Expressing "if… then…" with "yaoshi"

要是⋯⋯，就⋯⋯ (yàoshi..., jiù...) is one of several ways to convey "If... Then..." It is very similar to 如果..., 就... in usage and formality. However, it is important to note that 要是 is considered to be even more informal (and is usually left more to spoken Chinese) than the common 如果 and used more frequently in the northern areas of China.

Positive Form

Structure

要是 Subj. ⋯⋯ ， 就 ⋯⋯

Examples

• 要是 他 不 来，我们 就 走 吧。If he doesn't come, we'll have to go.
• 你 要是 真 想 我，就 给 我 打 电话 吧。If you do miss me, then give me a call.
• 要是 我妈 知道 这 件 事，我 就 死 定了!If my mother knew about this, I would be so dead!
• 要是 老板 不 同意，我们 就 不 能 跟 客户 签 合同。If the boss doesn't agree, we can't sign the contract with the client.

如果“要是”在主语后，“要是”可以省略为“要”。比如说“要我说“。

Subj. 要 ⋯⋯ ，⋯⋯

• 你 要 再 说 ， 我 就 真 生气 了 。If you keep talking this way, I'll get really mad.
• 他 要 不 听 ， 我 也 没 办法 。If he doesn't listen, there's nothing I can do about it.

Negative Form

意思接近if it weren't for

Structure

要不是 ⋯⋯ ， 就 ⋯⋯

Examples

• 要 不 是 他 求 我 ， 我 才 不 帮 你 呢 。If it weren't because he begged me, I wouldn't be helping you.
• 要 不 是 因为 孩子 ，我 早就 离婚 了 。If it weren't for the sake of kids, I would have divorced him sooner.
• 要 不 是 堵车 ，我 早就 到 了 。If it weren't for the traffic jam, I would have gotten here sooner.
• 要 不 是 亲眼 看到 ，我 也 不 相信 。If I hadn't seen it for myself, I wouldn't believe it.
• 要 不 是 你 提醒 我 ，我 肯定 忘 了 。If it weren't for your reminding me, I would have forgotten.

See also

• "If…, then…" with "ruguo…, jiu…"
• "If… then…" with "jiaru"
• "If… then…" with "jiashi"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Common Chinese Patterns 330 (汉语常用格式330例) (pp. 246) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 278) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (pp. 41-2) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• 40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课下册） (pp. 502) [ →buy]