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 Pattern
Structure
"如果⋯⋯，就⋯⋯" is an often-used pattern that is utilized in the same way that "If…, then…" is in English.
如果 ⋯⋯ ，就 ⋯⋯
Examples
- 如果 你 输 了 ，就 要 给 我 一 百 块 。If you lose, you need to give me 100 kuai.
- 如果 老板 不 满意 ，我们 就 要 继续 加班 。If the boss isn't satisfied, we need keep working late.
- 如果 在 上海 找 不 到 好 工作 ，我 就 回 老家 。If I can't find a nice job in Shanghai, I'm going to go back to my hometown.
Colloquial Expression
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. "如果" and "就" are optional colloquially.
Structure
(如果) ⋯⋯ 的话 ，(就) ⋯⋯
Examples
- 见到 他们 的话，帮 我 问 好 。 If you meet them, tell them I say hello.
- 不 方便 的话 ，我 就 不 去 了 。If you're not busy, come to my place and hang out.
- 如果 你 喜欢 的话 ，就 拿走 吧 。Take it if you like it.
- 有空 的话 来 我家 玩 。 If you're not busy, come to my place so we can hang out.
- 如果 他 还是 不 同意 的话 ，你 怎么办 ？What will you do if he still disagree?
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
