Expressing "if" with "ruguo... dehua"

"如果⋯⋯的话，⋯⋯" (rúguǒ... de huà, ...) is a pattern commonly used in Chinese to express "if." An easy way to remember the pattern's format is that in the full form, the condition is "sandwiched" between 如果 and 的话.

Also, keep in mind that the 的话 at the end is optional, and even the leading "if" word is optional! Even when there are no explicit "if" words in a sentence, though, the "if" can be inferred from context. But be glad if you get either a 如果 or a 的话; it makes understanding the sentence that much easier!

Structure

(如果) ⋯⋯ 的话 ，(就) ⋯⋯

Examples

• 如果 你 有 空 的话 ，我们 可以 明天 晚上 看 电影 。If you have time, we can go see a movie tomorrow night.
• 如果 没有 你的帮助 的话 ，他 是 不会 得到 这份 工作 的 。If you didn't help him, he wouldn't get the job offer.
• 如果 你 不 来 的话 ，老师 会 很 失望 。If you don't come, the teacher will be disappointed.

An important thing to note is that 如果 can be switched out for the various other terms for "if," including the common 要是 (yàoshi) and the formal 假如 (jiǎrú), among others.

See also

• "If…, then…" with "ruguo…, jiu…"
• Marking a Topic with "de hua"
• "If… Then…" with "yaoshi"
• "Only if" with "zhiyou"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 280) →buy

Websties

• Chinesegrammar.info: Chinese grammar de hua (的话): expressing “if” in Chinese with de hua