If…then… in Chinese Grammar

Grammar Point:
In Chinese grammar, “if…then…” can be expressed using conditional conjunctions 如果 rúguǒ and 要是 yàoshìyàoshi to introduce a condition, followed by a main clause that expresses a result or consequence.

Structure

如果 or 要是 + Condition + (就) + Result

It’s possible to drop “就 jiù” in sentences, but unlike in English, the “then” part is always necessary in Chinese, especially in simple sentences.

如果rúguǒ明天míngtiān下雨xiàyǔ， 我wǒ( 就jiù) 不bú去qù游泳yóuyǒng了le如果rúguǒ明天míngtiān下雨xiàyǔ， 我wǒ( 就jiù) 不bú去qù游泳yóuyǒng了le
If it rains tomorrow, then I won’t go swimming.

要是yàoshì你nǐ有yǒu問題wèntí， ( 就jiù) 給gěi我wǒ打dǎ電話diànhuà要是yàoshi你nǐ有yǒu问题wèntí， ( 就jiù) 给gěi我wǒ打dǎ电话diànhuà
If you have any questions, then give me a call.

如果rúguǒ你nǐ有yǒu時間shíjiān， 我們wǒmen去qù看kàn電影diànyǐng吧ba如果rúguǒ你nǐ有yǒu时间shíjiān， 我们wǒmen去qù看kàn电影diànyǐng吧ba
If you have time, let’s go to the movies.

Condition 的話/的话 + (就) + Result

的話话 dehuà can be used alone or tag it with 如果 rúguǒ and 要是 yàoshìyàoshi. By it alone is more colloquial, while with 如果 rúguǒ and 要是 yàoshìyàoshi is more formal.

你nǐ想要xiǎngyào的話dehuà， 我wǒ就jiù買mǎi給gěi你nǐ你nǐ想要xiǎngyào的话dehuà， 我wǒ就jiù买mǎi给gěi你nǐ
If you want it, I will buy it for you.

要是yàoshì你nǐ吃chī不bù完wán的話dehuà， 就jiù打包dǎbāo帶dài回家huíjiā吧ba要是yàoshi你nǐ吃chī不bù完wán的话dehuà， 就jiù打包dǎbāo带dài回家huíjiā吧ba
If you can’t finish it, just pack it up and take it home.

如果rúguǒ我wǒ拿ná到dào獎學金jiǎngxuéjīn的話dehuà， 我wǒ一定yídìng會huì請qǐng你nǐ吃飯chīfàn謝謝xièxie你nǐ如果rúguǒ我wǒ拿ná到dào奖学金jiǎngxuéjīn的话dehuà， 我wǒ一定yídìng会huì请qǐng你nǐ吃饭chīfàn谢谢xièxie你nǐ
If I get the scholarship, I will definitely buy you a meal to thank you.

The adverb 那麼么 nàme can be used instead of 就 jiù to give a sentence a more casual tone. 那麼么 nàme means “in that case.” Alternatively, the shortened form 那 nà can also be used, too.

你nǐ想xiǎng考kǎo過guòHSK3 的話dehuà， 那麼nàme你nǐ應該yīnggāi要yào每天měitiān讀dú30 分鐘fēnzhōng的de中文zhōngwén你nǐ想xiǎng考kǎo过guòHSK3 的话dehuà， 那么nàme你nǐ应该yīnggāi要yào每天měitiān读dú30 分钟fēnzhōng的de中文zhōngwén
If you want to pass HSK3, in that case, you should study 30 minutes of Chinese every day.

聽tīng不bù懂dǒng的話dehuà那nà我wǒ再zài說shuō一次yícì听tīng不bù懂dǒng的话dehuà那nà我wǒ再zài说shuō一次yícì
If you don’t understand, (in this case,) I’ll say it again.

Differences Between 如果 and 要是

Formality:
如果 rúguǒ is considered to be more formal than 要是 yàoshìyàoshi. 如果 rúguǒ is often used in written language, official documents, and academic texts, while 要是 yàoshìyàoshi is used more in spoken language and casual conversation.

Emphasis:
要是 yàoshìyàoshi can be used to emphasize the conditional clause and suggest a stronger hypothetical situation. It can be translated as “suppose that” or “just in case.” For example, If you miss the train, you’ll have to wait until tomorrow. It emphasizes the consequence of missing the train.

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ If I die, all my money will be yours.

要是yàoshì我wǒ死sǐ了le， 我的wǒde錢qián就jiù都dōu是shì你的nǐde了le要是yàoshi我wǒ死sǐ了le， 我的wǒde钱qián就jiù都dōu是shì你的nǐde了le

✔️ If possible, I hope there is only one language in the world.

如果rúguǒ可能kěnéng的話dehuà， 我wǒ希望xīwàng全世界quánshìjiè只zhǐ有yǒu一個yíge語言yǔyán如果rúguǒ可能kěnéng的话dehuà， 我wǒ希望xīwàng全世界quánshìjiè只zhǐ有yǒu一个yíge语言yǔyán

✔️ Wait a minute… If that’s the case, I won’t have a job.

等等děngděng… 如果rúguǒ這樣zhèyàng的話dehuà， 我wǒ就jiù沒méi工作gōngzuò了le等等děngděng… 如果rúguǒ这样zhèyáng的话dehuà， 我wǒ就jiù没méi工作gōngzuò了le