Difference between revisions of "Expressing "if... then..." with "ruguo... jiu...""

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*<em>如果</em> 他 知道 ,<strong>那</strong> 他 一 定 会 告诉 我 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Rúguǒ</em> tā zhīdào, <strong>nà</strong> tā yīdìng huì gàosu wǒ.</span><span class="trans">If he knew, he would definitely tell me.</span>
 
*<em>如果</em> 他 知道 ,<strong>那</strong> 他 一 定 会 告诉 我 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Rúguǒ</em> tā zhīdào, <strong>nà</strong> tā yīdìng huì gàosu wǒ.</span><span class="trans">If he knew, he would definitely tell me.</span>
 
*<em>如果</em> 大家 都 不 感兴趣 ,<strong>那</strong> 我 不 说 了。<span class="pinyin"><em>Rúguǒ</em> dàjiā dōu bù gǎn xìngqù, <strong>nà</strong> wǒ bù shuō le.</span><span class="trans">If none of you are interested, I will stop talking.</span>
 
*<em>如果</em> 大家 都 不 感兴趣 ,<strong>那</strong> 我 不 说 了。<span class="pinyin"><em>Rúguǒ</em> dàjiā dōu bù gǎn xìngqù, <strong>nà</strong> wǒ bù shuō le.</span><span class="trans">If none of you are interested, I will stop talking.</span>
*<em>如果</em> 你们 真的 想 合作 ,<strong>那么</strong> 我们 应该 找 时间 好好 谈谈 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Rúguǒ</em> nǐmen zhēnde xiǎng hézuò, <strong>nàme</strong> wǒmen yīnggāi zhǎo shíjian hǎohǎo tántan.</span><span class="trans">If you really want to work with us, then we should schedule a day to discuss it.</span>
+
*<em>如果</em> 你们 真的 想 合作 ,<strong>那么</strong> 我们 应该 找 时间 好好 谈谈 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Rúguǒ</em> nǐmen zhēnde xiǎng hézuò, <strong>nàme</strong> wǒmen yīnggāi zhǎo shíjiān hǎohǎo tántan.</span><span class="trans">If you really want to work with us, then we should schedule a day to discuss it.</span>
 
*<em>如果</em> 能 找到 投资 ,<strong>那</strong> 下个月 就 可以 开始 做 了 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Rúguǒ</em> néng zhǎodào tóuzī, <strong>nà</strong> xià gè yuè jiù kěyǐ kāishǐ zuò le.</span><span class="trans">If we can find the investment, we'll be able to get on it next month.</span>
 
*<em>如果</em> 能 找到 投资 ,<strong>那</strong> 下个月 就 可以 开始 做 了 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Rúguǒ</em> néng zhǎodào tóuzī, <strong>nà</strong> xià gè yuè jiù kěyǐ kāishǐ zuò le.</span><span class="trans">If we can find the investment, we'll be able to get on it next month.</span>
 
*<em>如果</em> 你 想 申请 ,<strong>那么</strong> 现在 就 要 开始 准备 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Rúguǒ</em> nǐ xiǎng shēnqǐng, <strong>nàme</strong> xiànzài jiù yào kāishǐ zhǔnbèi.</span><span class="trans">If you want to apply, you need to start to prepare right away.</span>
 
*<em>如果</em> 你 想 申请 ,<strong>那么</strong> 现在 就 要 开始 准备 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Rúguǒ</em> nǐ xiǎng shēnqǐng, <strong>nàme</strong> xiànzài jiù yào kāishǐ zhǔnbèi.</span><span class="trans">If you want to apply, you need to start to prepare right away.</span>

Revision as of 06:55, 29 November 2018

The 如果 ⋯⋯,就⋯⋯ (rúguǒ..., jiù...) two-part structure is very logical and concise, meaning "if... then...."

Standard Pattern

Structure

如果⋯⋯,就⋯⋯ is an often-used pattern that is utilized in the same way that "If…, then…" is in English. In English we sometimes drop then "then" in the second half of the sentence, and you can do the same in Chinese, dropping the 就.

如果 ⋯⋯ ,就 ⋯⋯

Examples

  • 如果 有 困难 , 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 , 给 我 一 百 块 。Rúguǒ nǐ shū le, jiù gěi wǒ yī bǎi kuài.If you lose, give me 100 kuai.
  • 如果 真的 找 不 回来 , 再 买 一 个 吧 。Rúguǒ zhēnde zhǎo bu huílái, jiù zài mǎi yī gè ba.If you can't find it, then buy a new one.
  • 如果 他 再 来 ,我们 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 相爱 了 , 分手 吧 。Rúguǒ nǐmen yǐjīng bù xiāngài le, jiù fēnshǒu ba.If you no longer love each other, just break up.

Fuller Pattern

Sometimes 那么 (nàme) is used instead of 就 (jiù), imparting a more relaxed, informal feel to the sentence. Sometimes just 那 (nà) will be used instead of 那么 (nàme).

Structure

如果 ⋯⋯ ,那么 / 那 ⋯⋯

Examples

  • 如果 他 知道 , 他 一 定 会 告诉 我 。Rúguǒ tā zhīdào, tā yīdìng huì gàosu wǒ.If he knew, he would definitely tell me.
  • 如果 大家 都 不 感兴趣 , 我 不 说 了。Rúguǒ dàjiā dōu bù gǎn xìngqù, wǒ bù shuō le.If none of you are interested, I will stop talking.
  • 如果 你们 真的 想 合作 ,那么 我们 应该 找 时间 好好 谈谈 。Rúguǒ nǐmen zhēnde xiǎng hézuò, nàme wǒmen yīnggāi zhǎo shíjiān hǎohǎo tántan.If you really want to work with us, then we should schedule a day to discuss it.
  • 如果 能 找到 投资 , 下个月 就 可以 开始 做 了 。Rúguǒ néng zhǎodào tóuzī, 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 现在 就 要 开始 准备 。Rúguǒ nǐ xiǎng shēnqǐng, nàme xiànzài jiù yào kāishǐ zhǔnbèi.If you want to apply, you need to start to prepare right away.

Adding in 的话

This article is focused on the two-part "if... then..." pattern 如果⋯⋯,就⋯⋯. But it's also possible to take the first half and make it into a "sandwich pattern" using 如果……的话.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books