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.

Structure

要是 ……， 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 really 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.
• 你 要是 再 这么 说， 我 就 真 生气 了。If you keep talking this way, I'll get really mad.

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) →buy
• Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 278) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (pp. 41-2) →buy
• 40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课下册） (p. 502)→buy