“If” and “but” – 若 ruò and 可 kě

Grammar Point:
When reading or listening to Chinese, you might notice that sometimes very short words are used instead of the full forms of “if” and “but.” Two common examples are 若 ruò for “if” and 可 kě for “but.” They come from literary Chinese and add either a formal touch or a strong, punchy feeling depending on the context.

若 ruò – if

若 ruò shows up a lot in formal writing, like contracts, official documents, or anything that sounds a little old-school.

若ruò你nǐ同意tóngyì， 我們wǒmen就jiù開始kāishǐ若ruò你nǐ同意tóngyì， 我们wǒmen就jiù开始kāishǐ
If you agree, we will start.

若ruò有yǒu問題wèntí， 請qǐng隨時suíshí聯絡liánluò我wǒ若ruò有yǒu问题wèntí， 请qǐng随时suíshí联络liánluò我wǒ
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

若ruò天氣tiānqì許可xǔkě， 我們wǒmen明天míngtiān出發chūfā若ruò天气tiānqì许可xǔkě， 我们wǒmen明天míngtiān出发chūfā
If the weather allows, we will depart tomorrow.

若ruò你nǐ不bú介意jièyì， 我wǒ想xiǎng提出tíchū一個yíge建議jiànyì若ruò你nǐ不bú介意jièyì， 我wǒ想xiǎng提出tíchū一个yíge建议jiànyì
If you don’t mind, I’d like to make a suggestion.

若ruò你nǐ吃chī不bù完wán， 可以kěyǐ打包dǎbāo帶走dàizǒu若ruò你nǐ吃chī不bù完wán， 可以kěyǐ打包dǎbāo带走dàizǒu
If you can’t finish it, you can pack it to go.

可 kě – but

可 kě is super common in everyday conversation, especially in the north, when people want to say “but” with a bit more feeling. In formal writing, we usually use 但是 dànshì or 然而 rán’ér for “but.”

他tā說shuō會huì來lái， 可kě到dào現在xiànzài還沒háiméi到dào他tā说shuō会huì来lái， 可kě到dào现在xiànzài还没háiméi到dào
He said he would come, but he still isn’t here.

我wǒ很hěn想xiǎng去qù， 可kě我wǒ今天jīntiān太tài忙máng了le我wǒ很hěn想xiǎng去qù， 可kě我wǒ今天jīntiān太tài忙máng了le
I really want to go, but I’m too busy today.

這zhè道dào菜cài看起來kànqǐlái簡單jiǎndān， 可kě做zuò起來qǐlái很hěn難nán这zhè道dào菜cài看起来kànqǐlái简单jiǎndān， 可kě做zuò起来qǐlái很hěn难nán
This dish looks simple, but it’s really hard to make!

他tā說shuō不在乎búzàihū， 可kě臉上liǎnshàng明明míngmíng很hěn難過nánguò他tā说shuō不在乎búzàihū， 可kě脸上liǎnshàng明明míngmíng很hěn难过nánguò
He said he didn’t care, but his face clearly showed he was sad.

我wǒ已經yǐjīng提醒tíxǐng他tā三sān次cì了le， 可kě他tā還是háishì忘記wàngjì帶dài鑰匙yàoshǐ我wǒ已经yǐjīng提醒tíxǐng他tā三sān次cì了le， 可kě他tā还是háishì忘记wàngjì带dài钥匙yàoshi
I reminded him three times, but he still forgot the keys!