Difference between revisions of "Expressing "if" with "ruguo... dehua""
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{{Grammar Box}} | {{Grammar Box}} | ||
| − | + | 如果⋯⋯的话 ，⋯⋯ (rúguǒ... dehuà, ...) 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. 就 is often optional. | |
== Fuller Pattern == | == Fuller Pattern == | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | *<em>如果</em> 明天 下雨 <em>的话</em> ，我们 < | + | *<em>如果</em> 明天 下雨 <em>的话</em> ，我们 <strong>就</strong> 不 去 了 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Rúguǒ</em> míngtiān xiàyǔ <em>dehuà</em>, wǒmen <strong>jiù</strong> bù qù le.</span><span class="trans">If it rains tomorrow, we won't go.</span> |
| − | *别 点 那么 多 菜 。<em>如果</em> 吃 不 完 <em>的话</em> ，< | + | *别 点 那么 多 菜 。<em>如果</em> 吃 不 完 <em>的话</em> ，<strong>就</strong> 浪费 了 。<span class="pinyin">Bié diǎn nàme duō cài. <em>Rúguǒ</em> chī bù wán <em>dehuà</em>, <strong>jiù</strong> tài làngfèi le.</span><span class="trans">Don't order so much. It will be a big waste of food if we can't finish all.</span> |
| − | *<em>如果</em> 有 人 帮 他 <em>的话</em> ，他 < | + | *<em>如果</em> 有 人 帮 他 <em>的话</em> ，他 <strong>就</strong> 不 会 出事 了 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Rúguǒ</em> yǒu rén bāng tā <em>dehuà</em>, tā <strong>jiù</strong> bù huì chūshì le.</span><span class="trans">If someone had helped him, he would't have had this accident.</span> |
*<em>如果</em> 你们 不 来 <em>的话</em> ，一定 会 后悔 的 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Rúguǒ</em> nǐmen bù lái <em>dehuà</em>, yīdìng huì hòuhuǐ de .</span><span class="trans">If you don't come, you'll definitely regret it.</span> | *<em>如果</em> 你们 不 来 <em>的话</em> ，一定 会 后悔 的 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Rúguǒ</em> nǐmen bù lái <em>dehuà</em>, yīdìng huì hòuhuǐ de .</span><span class="trans">If you don't come, you'll definitely regret it.</span> | ||
| − | *如果 他 | + | *如果 他 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 disapprove?</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
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== Simple Pattern == | == Simple Pattern == | ||
| − | Colloquially, it's also possible to drop the 如果 | + | 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 的话 nor 就, and let the "if" be completely implied. |
=== Structure === | === Structure === | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * | + | *不 想 去 <em>的话</em> <strong>就</strong> 别 去 了 。<span class="pinyin">Bù xiǎng qù <em>dehuà</em> <em>jiù</em> bié qù le.</span><span class="trans">Don't go if you don't feel like going.</span> |
| − | * | + | *你 喜欢 <em>的话</em> ，<strong>就</strong> 拿走 吧 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Rúguǒ</em> nǐ xǐhuan <em>dehuà</em>, <em>jiù</em> názǒu ba.</span><span class="trans">Take it if you like it.</span> |
| − | *不 | + | *不 舒服 <em>的话</em> ，今天 <strong>就</strong> 别 去 上班 了 。 <span class="pinyin">Bù shūfu <em>dehuà</em>, jīntiān jiù bié qù shàngbān le.</span><span class="trans">If you don't feel well, I think you should stay at home instead of going to work today.</span> |
*有空 来 我 家 玩 。<span class="pinyin">Yǒu kòng lái wǒ jiā wán.</span><span class="trans">If you're not busy, come to my place so we can hang out.</span> | *有空 来 我 家 玩 。<span class="pinyin">Yǒu kòng lái wǒ jiā wán.</span><span class="trans">If you're not busy, come to my place so we can hang out.</span> | ||
*有 事 给 我 打电话 。<span class="pinyin">Yǒu shì gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà.</span><span class="trans">Give me a call if you need anything.</span> | *有 事 给 我 打电话 。<span class="pinyin">Yǒu shì gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà.</span><span class="trans">Give me a call if you need anything.</span> | ||
Revision as of 02:41, 2 January 2018
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如果⋯⋯的话 ，⋯⋯ (rúguǒ... dehuà, ...) 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. 就 is often optional.
Contents
Fuller Pattern
Structure
如果 ⋯⋯ 的话 ，(就) ⋯⋯
Examples
- 如果 明天 下雨 的话 ，我们 就 不 去 了 。If it rains tomorrow, we won't go.
- 别 点 那么 多 菜 。如果 吃 不 完 的话 ，就 浪费 了 。Don't order so much. It will be a big waste of food if we can't finish all.
- 如果 有 人 帮 他 的话 ，他 就 不 会 出事 了 。If someone had helped him, he would't have had this accident.
- 如果 你们 不 来 的话 ，一定 会 后悔 的 。If you don't come, you'll definitely regret it.
- 如果 他 不 同意 的话 ，你 怎么办 ？What will you do if he disapprove?
Simple Pattern
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 的话 nor 就, and let the "if" be completely implied.
Structure
⋯⋯ 的话 ，就 ⋯⋯
Examples
- 不 想 去 的话 就 别 去 了 。Don't go if you don't feel like going.
- 你 喜欢 的话 ，就 拿走 吧 。Take it if you like it.
- 不 舒服 的话 ，今天 就 别 去 上班 了 。 If you don't feel well, I think you should stay at home instead of going to work today.
- 有空 来 我 家 玩 。If you're not busy, come to my place so we can hang out.
- 有 事 给 我 打电话 。Give me a call if you need anything.
Note 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
Websties
- Chinesegrammar.info: Chinese grammar de hua (的话): expressing “if” in Chinese with de hua
