One of the benefits of Chinese is that the grammar is often very logical and concise. In this article, we look at the "如果⋯⋯，就⋯⋯" (rúguǒ..., jiù...) structure. We will also look at uses "的话" (dehuà).

Standard expression with 如果⋯⋯就

Structure

"如果⋯⋯，就⋯⋯" is an often-used pattern that is utilized in the same way that "If…, then…" is in English.

Examples

如果不好好复习，你就无法通过明天的考试。Rúguǒ bù hǎohǎo fùxí, nǐ jiù wúfǎ tōngguò míngtiān de kǎoshì.If you don't review well, you won't be able to pass tomorrow's test.
他如果不迷恋网络游戏，就能考上好的大学。Tā rúguǒ bù míliàn wǎngluò yóuxì, jiù néng kǎo shàng hǎo de dàxué.If he hadn't been so addicted to the video games, he would have been admitted to a better university.
我如果在北京找不到工作，就会回昆明。Wǒ rúguǒ zài Běijīng zhǎo bù dào gōngzuò, jiù huì huí Kūnmíng.If I can't find a job in Beijing, I'm going to go back to Kunming.

Colloquial expression with 如果⋯⋯的话

Although 如果 can be used to mean "if" all by itself, it's often used together with the phrase 的话 to create the "if" sandwich pattern. "就" is optional.

Structure

Examples

如果你去的话，帮我跟她问好。 Rúguǒ nǐ qù de huà, bāng wǒ gēn tā wènhǎo.If you go, tell her I say hello.
如果下次有时间的话，一定要找我玩儿。Rúguǒ xià cì yǒu shíjiān de huà, yīdìng yào zhǎo wǒ wán er.When you have time, you need to find me so we can hang out.
如果你不忙的话，可以帮我联系客户吗？Rúguǒ nǐ bù máng de huà, kěyǐ bāng wǒ liánxì kèhù ma?If you're not busy, can you help me connect with customers?
如果不方便的话，我就不去了。Rúguǒ bù fāngbiàn de huà, wǒ jiù bù qù le.

Here's the slightly tricky thing: while you can use 如果 without 的话, it's also possible to drop the 如果 and just use the 的话 instead to mean "if." It's even possible to use neither, and let the "if" be completely implied.

你去的话，帮我跟她问好。 Nǐ qù de huà, bāng wǒ gēn tā wènhǎo.If you go, tell her I say hello.
下次有时间的话，一定要找我玩儿。 Xià cì yǒu shíjiān de huà, yīdìng yào zhǎo wǒ wán er.When you have time, you need to find me so we can hang out.
你不忙的话，可以帮我联系客户吗？Nǐ bù máng de huà, kěyǐ bāng wǒ liánxì kèhù ma?If you're not busy, can you help me connect with customers?
没地方住的话，就来我这里吧。Méi dìfang zhù de huà, jiù lái wǒ zhèlǐ ba.

如果⋯⋯那么

这里，“那么”的用法是使得结构的前后两部分显得不那么严肃和拘束，起到一种舒缓句子节奏的作用。

Structure

Examples

如果你不去，那么我也不去。Rúguǒ nǐ bù qù, nàme wǒ yě bù qù.
如果他知道了，那么他一定会来告诉我。Rúguǒ tā zhīdào le, nàme tā yīdìng huì lái gàosu wǒ.
如果现在我们不合作，那么我们以后就没有机会合作了。Rúguǒ xiànzài wǒmen bù hézuò, nàme wǒmen yǐhòu jiù méiyǒu jīhuì hézuò le.
如果你不相信我，那么我就什么都不说了。Rúguǒ nǐ bù xiāngxìn wǒ, nàme wǒ jiù shénme dōu bù shuō le.

Standard expression with 如果⋯⋯就

Structure

Examples

Colloquial expression with 如果⋯⋯的话

Structure

Examples

如果⋯⋯那么

Structure

Examples

See also

Sources and further reading

Books