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. "就" is often optional. Colloquially, 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 如果 nor 就, and let the "if" be completely implied..
Structure
(如果) ⋯⋯ 的话 ，(就) ⋯⋯
Examples
- 如果 他 还是 不 同意 的话 ，你 怎么办 ？What will you do if he still disagree?
- 如果 你 喜欢 的话 ，就 拿走 吧 。Take it if you like it.
- 不 方便 的话 ，我 就 不 去 了 。If you're not busy, come to my place and hang out.
- 见到 他们 的话，帮 我 问 好 。 If you meet them, tell them I say hello.
- 有空 来 我 家 玩 。If you're not busy, come to my place so we can hang out.
Colloquial 那么 after 如果
“那么”的功能是让这个句式显得不那么拘谨，起舒缓句子节奏的作用。口语里常常省略为"那"。
Structure
如果 ⋯⋯ ，那么 /那 + Subj. (就) ⋯⋯
Examples
- 如果 他 知道 ，那 他 一 定 会 告诉 我 。If he knew, he would definitely tell me.
- 如果 你 不 相信 我，那 我 就 不 说 了。If you don't trust me, I will just stop talking.
- 如果 你们 想 跟 我们 合作 ，那么 你们 就 要 提供 最好 的 解决方案 。If you want to cooperate with us, you need to provide the best solution.
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
