“if… then…” in Chinese – jiǎrú and wànyī

Grammar Point:
In Chinese, 假如 jiǎrú and 萬万一 wànyī are both used to express conditional or hypothetical situations, similar to “if” in English, but they serve slightly different purposes and tones.

Structure

假如 jiǎrú + condition + (就 jiù) + result

假如 jiǎrú is used for hypothetical or imagined scenarios, similar to saying “if” or “in case” in English. It’s often used when there is a reasonable chance or expectation of something happening.

假如jiǎrú下雨xiàyǔ， 我們wǒmen就jiù不bù出門chūmén假如jiǎrú下雨xiàyǔ， 我们wǒmen就jiù不bù出门chūmén
If it rains, we won’t go out.

假如jiǎrú我wǒ是shì你nǐ， 我wǒ就jiù會huì直接zhíjiē告訴gàosù他tā假如jiǎrú我wǒ是shì你nǐ， 我wǒ就jiù会huì直接zhíjiē告诉gàosu他tā
If I were you, I’d just tell him directly.

假如jiǎrú你nǐ中zhòng了le一百萬yìbǎiwàn， 你nǐ會huì買mǎi房子fángzi嗎ma？ 假如jiǎrú你nǐ中zhòng了le一百万yìbǎiwàn， 你nǐ会huì买mǎi房子fángzi吗ma？
If you won a million dollars, would you buy a house?

假如jiǎrú明天míngtiān就是jiùshì世界shìjiè末日mòrì， 你nǐ會huì做zuò什麼shénme？ 假如jiǎrú明天míngtiān就是jiùshì世界shìjiè末日mòrì， 你nǐ会huì做zuò什么shénme？
If tomorrow were the end of the world, what would you do?

萬万一 wànyī + condition + (就 jiù) + result

This is used for more unlikely or unexpected situations, similar to “in case” or “if by chance.” It implies that the scenario is less likely to happen and can be used when discussing possible risks or precautions.

萬一wànyì你nǐ遲到chídào我wǒ會huì等děng你nǐ， 所以suǒyǐ不用búyòng擔心dānxīn万一wànyì你nǐ迟到chídào我wǒ会huì等děng你nǐ， 所以suǒyǐ不用búyòng担心dànxīn
If you’re late, I’ll wait for you, so don’t worry.

萬一wànyì出chū意外yìwài怎麼辦zěnmebàn？ 還是háishì買mǎi個ge保險bǎoxiǎn吧ba！ 万一wànyì出chū意外yìwài怎么办zěnmebàn？ 还是háishì买mǎi个ge保险bǎoxiǎn吧ba！
What if there’s an accident? Better get some insurance!

你nǐ帶dài現金xiànjīn了le嗎ma？ 這樣zhèyàng萬一wànyì他們tāmen不bù收shōu信用卡xìnyòngkǎ， 我們wǒmen也yě不會búhuì有yǒu問題wèntí你nǐ带dài现金xiànjīn了le吗ma？ 这样zhèyáng万一wànyì他们tāmen不bù收shōu信用卡xìnyòngkǎ， 我们wǒmen也yě不会búhuì有yǒu问题wèntí
Did you bring cash? That way, if they don’t take credit cards, we’ll be fine.

萬一wànyì明天míngtiān班機bānjī取消qǔxiāo， 我們wǒmen明míng晚wǎn就jiù需要xūyào睡shuì在zài機場jīchǎng了le万一wànyì明天míngtiān班机bānjī取消qǔxiāo， 我们wǒmen明míng晚wǎn就jiù需要xūyào睡shuì在zài机场jīchǎng了le
If tomorrow’s flight gets canceled, we’ll have to spend the night at the airport.

FYI
In Chinese, there’s a saying: 不怕一萬万，只怕萬万一 bú pà yíwàn, zhǐ pà wànyī, which is about being prepared for the unexpected. Roughly translated, it means ‘Don’t fear the ten thousand; only fear the “what if,”’ capturing a mindset of caution. In English, it’s similar to ‘Better safe than sorry’ or ‘Expect the unexpected,’ stressing the importance of being ready for even the rarest of risks.

Chinese “If” Usage tips

• Everyday speech: 如果 rúguǒ、要是 yàoshìshi、的話 dehuà
• Formal situations: 假如 jiǎrú
• Emergency/unexpected: 萬万一 wànyī

• 8 Ways to Say “If” in Chinese – A Quick Guide