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

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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
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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.
  
"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.
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== Fuller Pattern ==
  
An important thing to note is that 如果 can be switched out for the various other terms for "if," including [["If… Then…" with "yaoshi"|the common 要是]] (yàoshi) and [["If… Then…" with "jiaru"|the formal 假如]] (jiǎrú), among others.  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!
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=== Structure ===
  
== Examples ==
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<div class="jiegou">
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如果 ⋯⋯ 的话 ,(就) ⋯⋯
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</div>
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Note that 就 (jiù) is often optional. For more on using 如果 with 就, check out the [[Expressing "if…, then…" with "ruguo…, jiu…"|"if…, then…" two-part pattern with 如果……就……]].
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=== Examples ===
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*<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> 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>
*<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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*别 点 那么 多 菜 。<em>如果</em> 吃 不 完 <em>的话</em> ,<strong>就</strong> 太 浪费 了 。<span class="pinyin">Bié diǎn nàme duō cài. <em>Rúguǒ</em> chī bu 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 it all.</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> 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>
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*<em>如果</em> 你们 不 来 <em>的话</em> ,一定 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>
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*<em>如果</em> 他 不 同意 <em>的话</em> ,你 怎么办 ?<span class="pinyin"><em>Rúguǒ</em> tā bù tóngyì <em>dehuà</em>, nǐ zěnmebàn?</span><span class="trans">What will you do if he doesn't agree?</span>
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</div>
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== Simple Pattern ==
  
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Colloquially, it's also possible to drop the 如果 and just use the 的话 instead to mean "if." 的话 is optional.
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=== Structure ===
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<div class="jiegou">
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⋯⋯ (的话) ,就 ⋯⋯
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
==See also==
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=== Examples ===
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<div class="liju">
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*不 想 去 <em>的话</em> <strong>就</strong> 别 去 了 。<span class="pinyin">Bù xiǎng qù <em>dehuà</em> <strong>jiù</strong> bié qù le.</span><span class="trans">Don't go if you don't feel like going.</span>
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*好吃 <em>的话</em> ,<strong>就</strong> 多 吃 点 。<span class="pinyin">Hǎochī <em>dehuà</em>, <strong>jiù</strong> duō chī diǎn.</span><span class="trans">If you think it's tasty, eat some more.</span>
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*喜欢 <strong>就</strong> 拿走 吧 。<span class="pinyin">Xǐhuan <strong>jiù</strong> názǒu ba.</span><span class="trans">Take it if you like it.</span>
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</div>
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It's even possible to use neither 的话 nor 就, and let the "if" be completely implied.
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<div class="liju">
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*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>
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*有空 来 我 家 玩 。<span class="pinyin">Yǒu kòng lái wǒ jiā wán.</span><span class="trans">If you're free, come to my place and hang out.</span>
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</div>
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Note that 如果 can be switched out for the various other terms for "if," including [["If… Then…" with "yaoshi"|the common 要是]] (yàoshi) and [["If… Then…" with "jiaru"|the formal 假如]] (jiǎrú), among others.
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== See also ==
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*[["If…, then…" with "ruguo…, jiu…"]]
 
*[["If…, then…" with "ruguo…, jiu…"]]
*[[Marking a Topic with "de hua"]]
 
 
*[["If… Then…" with "yaoshi"]]
 
*[["If… Then…" with "yaoshi"]]
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*[[Marking a topic with "de hua"]]
 
*[["Only if" with "zhiyou"]]
 
*[["Only if" with "zhiyou"]]
  
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
* [[Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide]] (pp. 280) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 →buy]
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{{Source|Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide|280}}
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{{Source|卓越汉语-公司实战篇|29}}
  
 
=== Websties ===
 
=== Websties ===
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* Chinesegrammar.info: [http://chinesegrammar.info/vocabulary/de-hua-expressing-if/ Chinese grammar de hua (的话): expressing “if” in Chinese with de hua]
 
* Chinesegrammar.info: [http://chinesegrammar.info/vocabulary/de-hua-expressing-if/ Chinese grammar de hua (的话): expressing “if” in Chinese with de hua]
  
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
{{Basic Grammar|如果|B1|如果⋯⋯(的话),⋯⋯|<em>如果</em> 你 不 来 <em>的话</em>,老师 会 很 失望。|grammar point|ASGN4VUU}}
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{{HSK|HSK3}}
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{{Basic Grammar|如果|B1|如果⋯⋯ (的话) ,(就) ⋯⋯|<em>如果</em> 明天 下雨 <em>的话</em> ,我们 <em>就</em>  不 去 了 。|grammar point|ASGN4VUU}}
 
{{Rel char|的话}}
 
{{Rel char|的话}}
{{Rel char|的}}
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{{Rel char|}}
{{Rel char|话}}
 
{{Rel char|如}}
 
 
{{Translation|if}}
 
{{Translation|if}}
{{Similar|Marking a Topic with "de hua"}}
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{{Similar|Expressing "then" with "jiu"}}
{{Similar|"If… Then…" with "yaoshi"}}
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{{Similar|Marking a topic with "de hua"}}
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{{Similar|Expressing "if... then..." with "ruguo... jiu..."}}
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{{Similar|Expressing "if… then…" with "yaoshi"}}
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{{Similar|Expressing "if… then…" with "jiaru"}}
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{{Similar|Expressing "if… then…" with "jiashi"}}
 
{{Similar|"Only if" with "zhiyou"}}
 
{{Similar|"Only if" with "zhiyou"}}
{{Similar|"If…, then…" with "ruguo…, jiu…"}}
 
 
{{Used for|Indicating conditions}}
 
{{Used for|Indicating conditions}}
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{{Used for|Expressing possibility}}
 
{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}}
 
{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}}
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{{Subprop|Complex Sentence Patterns}}

Latest revision as of 07:35, 27 November 2020

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.

Fuller Pattern

Structure

如果 ⋯⋯ 的话 ,(就) ⋯⋯

Note that 就 (jiù) is often optional. For more on using 如果 with 就, check out the "if…, then…" two-part pattern with 如果……就…….

Examples

  • 如果 明天 下雨 的话 ,我们 不 去 了 。Rúguǒ míngtiān xiàyǔ dehuà, wǒmen jiù bù qù le.If it rains tomorrow, we won't go.
  • 别 点 那么 多 菜 。如果 吃 不 完 的话 太 浪费 了 。Bié diǎn nàme duō cài. Rúguǒ chī bu wán dehuà, jiù tài làngfèi le.Don't order so much. It will be a big waste of food if we can't finish it all.
  • 如果 有 人 帮 他 的话 ,他 不 会 出事 了 。Rúguǒ yǒu rén bāng tā dehuà, tā jiù bù huì chūshì le.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 。Rúguǒ nǐmen bù lái dehuà, yīdìng huì hòuhuǐ de .If you don't come, you'll definitely regret it.
  • 如果 他 不 同意 的话 ,你 怎么办 ?Rúguǒ tā bù tóngyì dehuà, nǐ zěnmebàn?What will you do if he doesn't agree?

Simple Pattern

Colloquially, it's also possible to drop the 如果 and just use the 的话 instead to mean "if." 的话 is optional.

Structure

⋯⋯ (的话) ,就 ⋯⋯

Examples

  • 不 想 去 的话 别 去 了 。Bù xiǎng qù dehuà jiù bié qù le.Don't go if you don't feel like going.
  • 好吃 的话 多 吃 点 。Hǎochī dehuà, jiù duō chī diǎn.If you think it's tasty, eat some more.
  • 喜欢 拿走 吧 。Xǐhuan jiù názǒu ba.Take it if you like it.

It's even possible to use neither 的话 nor 就, and let the "if" be completely implied.

  • 有 事 给 我 打电话 。Yǒu shì gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà.Give me a call if you need anything.
  • 有空 来 我 家 玩 。Yǒu kòng lái wǒ jiā wán.If you're free, come to my place and hang out.

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

Sources and further reading

Books

Websties