Expressing "if... then..." with "ruguo... jiu..."
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Level
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Similar to
- Expressing "then" with "jiu" (A2)
- Events in quick succession with "yi... jiu..." (B1)
- Expressing "as one likes" with "jiu" (B1)
- Expressing "if" with "ruguo... dehua" (B1)
- Conditions with "yao" and "jiu" (B2)
- Expressing "if… then…" with "jiaru" (B2)
- Expressing "if… then…" with "yaoshi" (B2)
- Expressing "once...then..." with "yidan...jiu..." (B2)
- Expressing "only if" with "zhiyou" (B2)
- Marking a topic with "de hua" (B2)
- Expressing "if… then…" with "jiashi" (C1)
- Use "tangruo" to express "if" (C1)
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Used for
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Keywords
One of the benefits of Chinese is that the grammar is often very logical and concise. In this article, we look at the "如果...,就..." (rúguǒ..., jiù...) structure. We will also look at uses "的话" (dehuà).
Contents
Standard expression with 如果...就
Structure
"如果..., 就..." is an often-used pattern that is utilized in the same way that "If..., then..." is in English.
如果 + Statement + 就 + Result
Examples
- 如果 不 好好 复习，你就 无法 通过 明天 的 考试。If you don't review well, you won't be able to pass tomorrow's test.
- 他 如果 不 迷恋 网络 游戏，就能考上好的大学 。If he hadn't been so addicted to the video games,he would have been admitted to a better university.
- 我 如果 在 北京 找不到 工作，就 会 回 昆明。If I can't find a job in Beijing, I'm going to go back to Kunming.
Colloquial expression with 如果...的话
Although 如果 can be used to mean "if" all by itself, it's often used together with the phrase 的话 to create the "if" sandwich pattern. "就" is optional.
Structure
如果 + Statement + 的话, （就）Result
Examples
- 如果 你 去 的话，帮 我 跟 她 问 好。 If you go, tell her I say hello.
- 如果 下次 有 时间 的话，一定 要 找 我 玩儿。When you have time, you need to find me so we can hang out.
- 如果 你 不 忙 的话，可以 帮 我 联系 客户 吗？If you're not busy, can you help me connect with customers?
- 如果 不 方便 的话，我 就 不 去 了。
Here's the slightly tricky thing: while you can use 如果 without 的话, it's also possible to drop the 如果 and just use the 的话 instead to mean "if." It's even possible to use neither, and let the "if" be completely implied.
Statement + 的话, （就）Result
- 你 去 的话，帮 我 跟 她 问 好。 If you go, tell her I say hello.
- 下次 有 时间 的话，一定 要 找 我 玩儿。 When you have time, you need to find me so we can hang out.
- 你 不 忙 的话，可以 帮 我 联系 客户 吗？If you're not busy, can you help me connect with customers?
- 没 地方 住 的话，就 来 我 这里 吧。
如果...那么
这里，“那么”的用法是使得结构的前后两部分显得不那么严肃和拘束，起到一种舒缓句子节奏的作用。
Structure
如果 + Statement, 那么(就) + Result
Examples
- 如果 你 不 去，那么 我 也 不 去。
- 如果 他 知道 了，那么 他 一 定 会 来 告诉 我。
- 如果 现在 我们 不 合作，那么 我们 以后 就 没有 机会 合作 了。
- 如果 你 不 相信 我，那么 我 就 什么 都 不 说 了。
See also
- Marking a topic with "de hua"
- "If… then…" with "yaoshi"
- "If… then…" with "jiaru"
- "Only if" with "zhiyou"
Sources and further reading
Books
- Common Chinese Patterns 330 (汉语常用格式330例) (pp. 184) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2) (pp. 240) →buy
