Difference between revisions of "Expressing "if… then…" with "yaoshi""

 
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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
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要是⋯⋯,就⋯⋯ (yàoshi..., jiù...) is one of several ways to convey "If..., then..." It is very similar to [["If…, then…" with "ruguo…, jiu…"|如果..., 就...]] in usage and formality. However, it is important to note that 要是 is considered to be even more informal (and is usually left more to spoken Chinese) than [["If…, then…" with "ruguo…, jiu…"|the common 如果]] and used more frequently in the northern areas of China.
  
"要是⋯⋯,就⋯⋯" (yàoshi..., jiù...) is one of several ways to convey "If... Then..." It is very similar to [["If…, then…" with "ruguo…, jiu…"|如果..., 就...]] in usage and formality. However, it is important to note that 要是 is considered to be even more informal (and is usually left more to spoken Chinese) than [["If…, then…" with "ruguo…, jiu…"|the common 如果]] and used more frequently in the northern areas of China.
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== Affirmative Form ==
  
==Structure==
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=== Structure ===
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
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要是 + Subj. ⋯⋯ , 就 ⋯⋯
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</div>
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Note that the subject can also be placed before 要是. In this case, 要是 can be shortened as 要.
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=== Examples ===
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<div class="liju">
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*你 <em>要是</em> 真 想 我 ,<em>就</em> 给 我 打 电话 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>yàoshi</em> zhēn xiǎng wǒ, <em>jiù</em> gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà.</span><span class="trans">If you do miss me, then give me a call.</span>
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*<em>要是</em> 我 妈 知道 这 件 事 ,我 <em>就</em> 死 定了 ! <span class="pinyin"><em>Yàoshi</em> wǒ mā zhīdào zhè jiàn shì, wǒ <em>jiù</em> sǐ dìng le!</span><span class="trans">If my mother knew about this, I would be so dead!</span>
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*<em>要是</em> 老板 不 同意,我们 <em>就</em> 不 能 跟 客户 签 合同 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yàoshi</em> lǎobǎn bù tóngyì, wǒmen <em>jiù</em> bù néng gēn kèhù qiān hétóng.</span><span class="trans">If the boss doesn't agree, then we can't sign the contract with the client.</span>
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*你 <em>要</em> 再 说 ,我 真 生气 了 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>yào</em> zàishuō, wǒ zhēn shēngqì le.</span><span class="trans">If you keep talking that way, I'm really gonna get angry.</span>
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*他 <em>要</em> 不 听 ,我 也 没 办法 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>yào</em> bù tīng, wǒ yě méi bànfǎ.</span><span class="trans">If he doesn't listen, there's nothing I can do about it.</span>
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</div>
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== Negative Form ==
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要不是 is pretty much the same as the English saying "if it weren't for."
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=== Structure ===
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<div class="jiegou">
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要不是 ⋯⋯ ,⋯⋯
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</div>
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=== Examples ===
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<div class="liju">
  
要是 ……, 就 ……
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*<em>要 不 是</em> 他 求 我 , 我 才 不 帮 你 呢 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yàobùshì</em> tā qiú wǒ, wǒ cái bù bāng nǐ ne.</span><span class="trans">If it weren't because he begged me, I wouldn't be helping you.</span>
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*<em>要 不 是</em> 因为 孩子 ,我 早就 离婚 了 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yàobùshì</em> yīnwèi háizi, wǒ zǎo jiù líhūn le.</span><span class="trans">If it weren't for the sake of the kids, I would have gotten divorced long ago.</span>
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*<em>要 不 是</em> 堵车 ,我 早就 到 了 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yàobùshì</em> dǔchē, wǒ zǎo jiù dào le.</span><span class="trans">If it weren't for the traffic jam, I would have gotten here much sooner.</span>
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*<em>要 不 是</em> 亲眼 看到 ,我 也 不 相信 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yàobùshì</em> qīnyǎn kàn dào, wǒ yě bù xiāngxìn.</span><span class="trans">If I hadn't seen it for myself, I wouldn't believe it either.</span>
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*<em>要 不 是</em> 你 提醒 我 ,我 肯定 忘 了 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yàobùshì</em> nǐ tíxǐng wǒ, wǒ kěndìng wàng le.</span><span class="trans">If it weren't for your reminding me, I would have forgotten.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Examples ==
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== Colloquial Saying 要我说 ==
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Literally 要我说 means "if you ask for my opinion."
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A few examples:
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*<em>要是</em> 他 不 来,我们 <em></em> 走 吧。<span class="trans">If he doesn't come, we'll have to go.</span>
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*<em>要我说</em> ,你 先 别 告诉 她 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yào wǒ shuō</em>, nǐ xiān bié gàosu tā.</span><span class="trans">I say don't tell her yet.</span>
*<em>要是</em> 真 想 我,<em></em> 给 我 打 电话 吧。<span class="trans">If you really miss me, then give me a call.</span>
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*<em>要我说</em> ,他 就是 太 懒 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yào wǒ shuō</em>, tā jiù shì tài lǎn.</span><span class="trans">I say he's just too lazy.</span>
*<em>要是</em> 我妈 知道 这 件 事,我 <em></em> 死 定了!<span class="trans">If my mother knew about this, I would be so dead.</span>
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*<em>要我说</em> ,我们 应该 早点 做 准备 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yào wǒ shuō</em>, wǒmen yīnggāi zǎodiǎn zuò zhǔnbèi.</span><span class="trans">In my opinion, we should get prepared sooner.</span>
*<em>要是</em> 老板 同意,我们 <em></em> 不 能 跟 客户 签 合同。<span class="trans">If the boss doesn't agree, we can't sign the contract with the client.</span>
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*<em>要我说</em> ,这个 人 能 信 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yào wǒ shuō</em>, zhège rén bù néng xìn.</span><span class="trans">In my opinion, this man can't be trusted.</span>
*<em>要是</em> 再 这么 说, 我 <em></em> 真 生气 了。<span class="trans">If you keep talking this way, I'll get really mad.</span>
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*<em>要我说</em> ,什么时候 开始 都 不 晚 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yào wǒ shuō</em>, shénme shíhou kāishǐ dōu bù wǎn.</span><span class="trans">I say it's never too late to start.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
==See also==
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== See also ==
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*[["If…, then…" with "ruguo…, jiu…"]]
 
*[["If…, then…" with "ruguo…, jiu…"]]
 
*[["If… then…" with "jiaru"]]
 
*[["If… then…" with "jiaru"]]
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
* [[Common Chinese Patterns 330 (汉语常用格式330例) ]] (pp. 246) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7802006473/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7802006473 →buy]
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 4上|85}}
* [[Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide]] (pp. 278) [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|Common Chinese Patterns 330 (汉语常用格式330例) |246}}
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)]] (pp. 41-2) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561913192/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561913192 →buy]
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{{Source|Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide|278}}
*[[40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课下册)]] (p. 502)[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FTL8D8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001FTL8D8&linkCode=as2&tag=allset-20 →buy]
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{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)|41-2}}
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{{Source|40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课下册)|502}}
  
 
[[Category: B2 grammar points]]
 
[[Category: B2 grammar points]]
{{Basic Grammar|要是|B2|要是⋯⋯,就⋯⋯|<em>要是</em> 累 了 , <em>就</em> 休息 一会 。|grammar point|ASGN4S8O}}
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{{HSK|HSK4}}
{{Rel char|要}}
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{{Basic Grammar|要是|B2|要是⋯⋯,就⋯⋯|<em>要是</em> 真 想 我,<em>就</em> 给 我 打 电话 。|grammar point|ASGN4S8O}}
{{Rel char|是}}
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{{Similar|Expressing "if... then..." with "ruguo... jiu..."}}
{{Rel char|就}}
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{{Similar|Expressing "if" with "ruguo... dehua"}}
{{Similar|"If…, then…" with "ruguo…, jiu…"}}
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{{Similar|Expressing "if… then…" with "jiaru"}}
{{Similar|"If… then…" with "jiaru"}}
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{{Similar|Expressing "if… then…" with "jiashi"}}
{{Similar|"If… then…" with "jiashi"}}
 
{{Similar|The "if" sandwich pattern}}
 
 
{{Used for|Indicating cause and effect}}
 
{{Used for|Indicating cause and effect}}
 
{{Used for|Indicating conditions}}
 
{{Used for|Indicating conditions}}

Latest revision as of 08:07, 17 December 2020

要是⋯⋯,就⋯⋯ (yàoshi..., jiù...) is one of several ways to convey "If..., then..." It is very similar to 如果..., 就... in usage and formality. However, it is important to note that 要是 is considered to be even more informal (and is usually left more to spoken Chinese) than the common 如果 and used more frequently in the northern areas of China.

Affirmative Form

Structure

要是 + Subj. ⋯⋯ , 就 ⋯⋯

Note that the subject can also be placed before 要是. In this case, 要是 can be shortened as 要.

Examples

  • 要是 真 想 我 , 给 我 打 电话 。yàoshi zhēn xiǎng wǒ, jiù gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà.If you do miss me, then give me a call.
  • 要是 我 妈 知道 这 件 事 ,我 死 定了 ! Yàoshi wǒ mā zhīdào zhè jiàn shì, wǒ jiù sǐ dìng le!If my mother knew about this, I would be so dead!
  • 要是 老板 不 同意,我们 不 能 跟 客户 签 合同 。Yàoshi lǎobǎn bù tóngyì, wǒmen jiù bù néng gēn kèhù qiān hétóng.If the boss doesn't agree, then we can't sign the contract with the client.
  • 再 说 ,我 真 生气 了 。yào zàishuō, wǒ zhēn shēngqì le.If you keep talking that way, I'm really gonna get angry.
  • 不 听 ,我 也 没 办法 。yào bù tīng, wǒ yě méi bànfǎ.If he doesn't listen, there's nothing I can do about it.

Negative Form

要不是 is pretty much the same as the English saying "if it weren't for."

Structure

要不是 ⋯⋯ ,⋯⋯

Examples

  • 要 不 是 他 求 我 , 我 才 不 帮 你 呢 。Yàobùshì tā qiú wǒ, wǒ cái bù bāng nǐ ne.If it weren't because he begged me, I wouldn't be helping you.
  • 要 不 是 因为 孩子 ,我 早就 离婚 了 。Yàobùshì yīnwèi háizi, wǒ zǎo jiù líhūn le.If it weren't for the sake of the kids, I would have gotten divorced long ago.
  • 要 不 是 堵车 ,我 早就 到 了 。Yàobùshì dǔchē, wǒ zǎo jiù dào le.If it weren't for the traffic jam, I would have gotten here much sooner.
  • 要 不 是 亲眼 看到 ,我 也 不 相信 。Yàobùshì qīnyǎn kàn dào, wǒ yě bù xiāngxìn.If I hadn't seen it for myself, I wouldn't believe it either.
  • 要 不 是 你 提醒 我 ,我 肯定 忘 了 。Yàobùshì nǐ tíxǐng wǒ, wǒ kěndìng wàng le.If it weren't for your reminding me, I would have forgotten.

Colloquial Saying 要我说

Literally 要我说 means "if you ask for my opinion."

A few examples:

  • 要我说 ,你 先 别 告诉 她 。Yào wǒ shuō, nǐ xiān bié gàosu tā.I say don't tell her yet.
  • 要我说 ,他 就是 太 懒 。Yào wǒ shuō, tā jiù shì tài lǎn.I say he's just too lazy.
  • 要我说 ,我们 应该 早点 做 准备 。Yào wǒ shuō, wǒmen yīnggāi zǎodiǎn zuò zhǔnbèi.In my opinion, we should get prepared sooner.
  • 要我说 ,这个 人 不 能 信 。Yào wǒ shuō, zhège rén bù néng xìn.In my opinion, this man can't be trusted.
  • 要我说 ,什么时候 开始 都 不 晚 。Yào wǒ shuō, shénme shíhou kāishǐ dōu bù wǎn.I say it's never too late to start.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books