Difference between revisions of "Marking a topic with "de hua""

 
(11 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
 
+
You probably already know that 的话 (dehuà) can be put at the end of a phrase [[Expressing "if" with "ruguo... dehua"|to express the meaning of "if."]] It can be used independently, or with 如果, both meaning "if."  But it can also be used to simply identify a topic, sort of like saying "when it comes to...."
 
 
You probably already know that 的话 (de huà) can be put at the end of a phrase [["If…, then…" with "ruguo…, jiu…"|to express the meaning of "if."]] It can be used independently, or with 如果, both meaning "if."  But it can also be used to simply identify a topic, sort of like saying "when it comes to...."
 
  
 
== Structure ==
 
== Structure ==
Line 13: Line 11:
  
 
== Examples ==
 
== Examples ==
 +
 +
Sometimes it's a fine line between an "if" statement and an "as for..." statement, as you'll see in some of the sentences below.
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*北京 <em>的话</em>,秋天 去 最好 。<span class="trans">As for Beijing, autumn is the best time to go.</span>
+
*北京 <em>的话</em>,秋天 去 最好 。<span class="pinyin">Běijīng <em>dehuà</em>, qiūtiān qù zuì hǎo.</span><span class="trans">As for Beijing, autumn is the best time to go.</span>
*晚上 <em>的话</em>,当然 方便 啦 。<span class="trans">The evening? Of course that's convenient.</span>
+
*晚上 <em>的话</em>,当然 方便 啦 。<span class="pinyin">Wǎnshang <em>dehuà</em>, dāngrán fāngbiàn la.</span><span class="trans">The evening? Of course that's convenient.</span>
*这个 问题 <em>的话</em>,我 不 太 方便 说 。<span class="trans">As for this question, it's not convenient for me to talk about it.</span>
+
*这个 问题 <em>的话</em>,我 不 太 方便 说 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè ge wèntí <em>dehuà</em>, wǒ bù tài fāngbiàn shuō.</span><span class="trans">As for this question, it's not convenient for me to talk about it.</span>
*我 肯定 能 去 。 他 <em>的话</em> ,我 就 不知道 了。<span class="trans">I can definitely go. As for him though, I don't know.</span>
+
*葡萄 <em>的话</em>,一定 要 吃 最 新鲜 的。<span class="pinyin">Pútao <em>dehuà</em>, yīdìng yào chī zuì xīnxiān de.</span><span class="trans">For grapes, always eat the freshest ones.</span>
*我们 的 要求 比较 高 。具体 来说 <em>的话</em> ,有 三 个 方面 。<span class="trans">Our requirement is quite high. Specifically, there are three aspects.</span>
+
*我 肯定 能 去 。 他 <em>的话</em> ,我 就 不知道 了。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ kěndìng néng qù. Tā <em>dehuà</em>, wǒ jiù bù zhīdào le.</span><span class="trans">I can definitely go. As for him, I don't know.</span>
 
+
*回 老家 <em>的话</em>,还是 坐 高铁 比较 方便。<span class="pinyin">Huí lǎojiā <em>dehuà</em>, háishì zuò gāotiě bǐjiào fāngbiàn.</span><span class="trans">If you want to go back to your hometown, it's more convenient to take the high-speed train.</span>
 +
*买 相机 <em>的话</em>,我 觉得 Sony相机 不错。<span class="pinyin">Mǎi xiāngjī <em>dehuà</em>, wǒ juéde Sony xiāngjī bùcuò.</span><span class="trans">If you want to buy a camera, I think Sony cameras are good.</span>
 +
*我们 的 要求 比较 高 。具体 来说 <em>的话</em> ,有 三 个 方面 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen de yāoqiú bǐjiào gāo. Jùtǐ lái shuō <em>dehuà</em>, yǒu sān gè fāngmiàn.</span><span class="trans">Our requirement is quite high. Specifically, there are three aspects.</span>
 +
*你 去 上海 旅游 <em>的话</em>,一定 要 去 外滩。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ qù Shànghǎi lǚyóu <em>dehuà</em>, yīdìng yào qù Wàitān.</span><span class="trans">If you're going to Shanghai, you must go to the Bund.</span>
 +
*买 衣服 <em>的话</em>,还是 要 去 实体店 试试 的。<span class="pinyin">Mǎi yīfu <em>dehuà</em>, háishì yào qù shítǐdiàn shìshi de.</span><span class="trans">If you want to buy clothes, you should go to a real store.</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
Line 27: Line 31:
  
 
*[["If…, then…" with "ruguo…, jiu…"]]
 
*[["If…, then…" with "ruguo…, jiu…"]]
*[["For…" with "eryan"]]
+
*[[Marking a topic with "ma"]]
*[[Limiting scope with "jiu"]]
+
*[[Topic-comment sentences]]
  
 
== Sources and further reading ==
 
== Sources and further reading ==
Line 35: Line 39:
  
 
* 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: B2 grammar points]]
 
[[Category: B2 grammar points]]
 
{{Basic Grammar|的话|B2|Topic + 的话 ,Comment|北京 <em>的话</em> ,秋天 去 最好 。|grammar point|ASGB0MXK}}
 
{{Basic Grammar|的话|B2|Topic + 的话 ,Comment|北京 <em>的话</em> ,秋天 去 最好 。|grammar point|ASGB0MXK}}
 
{{Similar|"If…, then…" with "ruguo…, jiu…"}}
 
{{Similar|"If…, then…" with "ruguo…, jiu…"}}
{{Similar|"For…" with "eryan"}}
+
{{Similar|Topic-comment sentences}}
{{Similar|Limiting Scope with "jiu"}}
+
{{Similar|Marking a topic with "ma"}}
 
{{Similar|The "if" sandwich pattern}}
 
{{Similar|The "if" sandwich pattern}}
 
{{Used for|Marking a topic}}
 
{{Used for|Marking a topic}}
 
{{Structure|"If" Statements}}
 
{{Structure|"If" Statements}}

Latest revision as of 03:48, 29 December 2020

You probably already know that 的话 (dehuà) can be put at the end of a phrase to express the meaning of "if." It can be used independently, or with 如果, both meaning "if." But it can also be used to simply identify a topic, sort of like saying "when it comes to...."

Structure

的话 can also be used to introduce a topic which the speaker intends to say more about.

Topic + 的话 ,Comment

Examples

Sometimes it's a fine line between an "if" statement and an "as for..." statement, as you'll see in some of the sentences below.

  • 北京 的话,秋天 去 最好 。Běijīng dehuà, qiūtiān qù zuì hǎo.As for Beijing, autumn is the best time to go.
  • 晚上 的话,当然 方便 啦 。Wǎnshang dehuà, dāngrán fāngbiàn la.The evening? Of course that's convenient.
  • 这个 问题 的话,我 不 太 方便 说 。Zhè ge wèntí dehuà, wǒ bù tài fāngbiàn shuō.As for this question, it's not convenient for me to talk about it.
  • 葡萄 的话,一定 要 吃 最 新鲜 的。Pútao dehuà, yīdìng yào chī zuì xīnxiān de.For grapes, always eat the freshest ones.
  • 我 肯定 能 去 。 他 的话 ,我 就 不知道 了。Wǒ kěndìng néng qù. Tā dehuà, wǒ jiù bù zhīdào le.I can definitely go. As for him, I don't know.
  • 回 老家 的话,还是 坐 高铁 比较 方便。Huí lǎojiā dehuà, háishì zuò gāotiě bǐjiào fāngbiàn.If you want to go back to your hometown, it's more convenient to take the high-speed train.
  • 买 相机 的话,我 觉得 Sony相机 不错。Mǎi xiāngjī dehuà, wǒ juéde Sony xiāngjī bùcuò.If you want to buy a camera, I think Sony cameras are good.
  • 我们 的 要求 比较 高 。具体 来说 的话 ,有 三 个 方面 。Wǒmen de yāoqiú bǐjiào gāo. Jùtǐ lái shuō dehuà, yǒu sān gè fāngmiàn.Our requirement is quite high. Specifically, there are three aspects.
  • 你 去 上海 旅游 的话,一定 要 去 外滩。Nǐ qù Shànghǎi lǚyóu dehuà, yīdìng yào qù Wàitān.If you're going to Shanghai, you must go to the Bund.
  • 买 衣服 的话,还是 要 去 实体店 试试 的。Mǎi yīfu dehuà, háishì yào qù shítǐdiàn shìshi de.If you want to buy clothes, you should go to a real store.

See also

Sources and further reading

Websties

HSK5