Difference between revisions of "Expressing "if" with "ruguo... dehua""

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(如果) ⋯⋯ 的话 ,(就) ⋯⋯
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(如果)⋯⋯ 的话 ,(就)⋯⋯
 
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*<em>如果</em> 你 有 空 <em>的话</em> ,我们 可以 明天 晚上 看 电影 。<span class="trans">If you have time, we can go see a movie tomorrow night.</span>
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*<em>如果</em> 你 有 空 <em>的话</em> ,我们 明天 见 个 面 吧 <span class="pinyin"><em>Rúguǒ</em> nǐ yǒu kōng <em>dehuà</em>, wǒmen míngtiān jiàn gè miàn ba.</span><span class="trans">If you have time, let's meet tomorrow.</span>
*<em>如果</em> 没有 你的帮助 <em>的话</em> ,他 是 不会 得到  这份 工作 的 。<span class="trans">If you didn't help him, he wouldn't get the job offer.</span>
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*<em>如果</em> 我 不 帮 他 的  <em>的话</em> ,他 不 会 赢 的 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Rúguǒ</em> wǒ bù bāng tā de <em>dehuà</em>, tā bù huì yíng de.</span><span class="trans">If you didn't help him, he wouldn't get the job offer.</span>
*<em>如果</em> 不 来 <em>的话</em> ,老师 很 失望 。<span class="trans">If you don't come, the teacher will be disappointed.</span>
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*<em>如果</em> 你们 不 来 <em>的话</em> ,你们 后悔 的 <span class="pinyin"><em>Rúguǒ</em> nǐmen bù lái <em>dehuà</em>, nǐmen huì hòuhuǐ de .</span><span class="trans">If you don't come, you'll regret it.</span>
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*如果 他 还是 不 同意 <em>的话</em> ,你 怎么办 ?<span class="pinyin">Rúguǒ tā háishì bù tóngyì <em>dehuà</em>, nǐ zěnmebàn?</span><span class="trans">What will you do if he still disagree?</span>
  
 
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Revision as of 03:24, 18 October 2017

"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 明天 见 个 面 吧 。Rúguǒ nǐ yǒu kōng dehuà, wǒmen míngtiān jiàn gè miàn ba.If you have time, let's meet tomorrow.
  • 如果 我 不 帮 他 的 的话 ,他 不 会 赢 的 。Rúguǒ wǒ bù bāng tā de dehuà, tā bù huì yíng de.If you didn't help him, he wouldn't get the job offer.
  • 如果 你们 不 来 的话 ,你们 会 后悔 的 。Rúguǒ nǐmen bù lái dehuà, nǐmen huì hòuhuǐ de .If you don't come, you'll regret it.
  • 如果 他 还是 不 同意 的话 ,你 怎么办 ?Rúguǒ tā háishì bù tóngyì dehuà, nǐ zěnmebàn?What will you do if he still disagree?

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

Sources and further reading

Books

Websties