Expressing "if... then..." with "ruguo... jiu..."

Level

B1 / HSK3
Level

B1
Level

HSK3
Similar to
Similar to
- Expressing "then" with "jiu" (HSK2)
- Expressing "as one likes" with "jiu" (HSK3)
- Expressing "if" with "ruguo... dehua" (HSK3)
- Expressing "only if" with "zhiyou" (HSK3)
- Events in quick succession with "yi... jiu..." (HSK4)
- Expressing "if… then…" with "yaoshi" (HSK4)
- Conditions with "yao" and "jiu" (HSK5)
- Expressing "if… then…" with "jiaru" (HSK5)
- Expressing "once...then..." with "yidan...jiu..." (HSK5)
- Marking a topic with "de hua" (HSK5)
- Expressing "if… then…" with "jiashi" (HSK6)
- Use "tangruo" to express "if" (HSK6)
Used for

Indicating conditions, Expressing possibility
Keywords

就, 如果

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).

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

如果有困难，就给我打电话。 Rúguǒ yǒu kùnnan, jiù gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà.If there is any difficulty, give me a call.
如果你输了，就给我一百块。Rúguǒ nǐ shū le, jiù gěi wǒ yī bǎi kuài.If you lose, you need to give me 100 kuai.
如果真的找不回来，就再买一个吧。Rúguǒ zhēnde zhǎo bu huílái, jiù zài mǎi yī gè ba.If you can't find it back, then buy a new one.
如果他再来，我们就报警。Rúguǒ tā zài lái, wǒmen jiù bàojǐng.If he keeps showing up, we'll call the police.
如果你们已经不爱对方了，就分手吧。Rúguǒ nǐmen yǐjīng bù ài duìfāng le, jiù fēnshǒu ba.If you no longer love each other, you should break up then.

Fuller Pattern

“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 ⋯⋯

Examples

如果他知道，那他一定会告诉我。Rúguǒ tā zhīdào, nà tā yīdìng huì gàosu wǒ.If he knew, he would definitely tell me.
如果大家都不感兴趣，那我就不说了。Rúguǒ dàjiā dōu bù gǎn xìngqù, nà wǒ jiù bù shuō le.If none of you are interested, I will just stop talking.
如果还想跟我们合作，那么我们就好好谈一谈。Rúguǒ hái xiǎng gēn wǒmen hézuò, nàme wǒmen jiù hǎohǎo tán yī tán.If you still want to work with us, we will have a good talk then.
如果能找到投资，那下个月就可以开始做了。Rúguǒ néng zhǎodào tóuzī, nà xià gè yuè jiù kěyǐ kāishǐ zuò le.If we can find the investment, we'll be able to get on it next month.
如果你想申请，那么你现在就要开始准备。Rúguǒ nǐ xiǎng shēnqǐng, nàme nǐ xiànzài jiù yào kāishǐ zhǔnbèi.If you want to apply, you need to start to prepare right away.

Sources and further reading

Books

Expressing "if... then..." with "ruguo... jiu..."

Contents

Standard Pattern

Structure

Examples

Fuller Pattern

Structure

Examples

See also

Sources and further reading

Books