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[![](Expressing%20%22if%22%20with%20%22ruguo...%20dehua%22%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/CGW-iBooks-150_150.jpg "fig:Expressing%20%22if%22%20with%20%22ruguo...%20dehua%22%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/CGW-iBooks-150_150.jpg")](http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1286538933)
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[B1](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/B1_grammar_points)
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Used for
[Indicating conditions](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Indicating_conditions), [Expressing possibility](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_possibility)
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Keywords
[如果](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E5%A6%82%E6%9E%9C), [的话](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E7%9A%84%E8%AF%9D), [就](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E5%B0%B1)
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Translations
[if](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/If)
[![Chinese-grammar-wiki-ruguo.jpg](Expressing%20%22if%22%20with%20%22ruguo...%20dehua%22%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/300px-Chinese-grammar-wiki-ruguo.jpg "fig:Chinese-grammar-wiki-ruguo.jpg"){width="300" height="300"}](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/File:Chinese-grammar-wiki-ruguo.jpg)
如果⋯⋯的话 (rúguǒ... dehuà) is a pattern commonly used in Chinese to express "if." An easy way to remember the pattern's format is that in the full form, the condition is "sandwiched" between 如果 and 的话.
Contents --------  [hide]([# "wikilink")\] 
- [1 Fuller Pattern](#Fuller_Pattern "wikilink") - [1.1 Structure](#Structure "wikilink") - [1.2 Examples](#Examples "wikilink") - [2 Simple Pattern](#Simple_Pattern "wikilink") - [2.1 Structure](#Structure_2 "wikilink") - [2.2 Examples](#Examples_2 "wikilink") - [3 See also](#See_also "wikilink") - [4 Sources and further reading](#Sources_and_further_reading "wikilink") - [4.1 Books](#Books "wikilink") - [4.2 Websties](#Websties "wikilink")
Fuller Pattern ------------------------------------------------------------------- ### Structure
如果 ⋯⋯ 的话 ，(就) ⋯⋯
Note that 就 (jiù) is often optional. For more on using 如果 with 就, check out the ["if…, then…" two-part pattern with 如果……就……](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22if%E2%80%A6,_then%E2%80%A6%22_with_%22ruguo%E2%80%A6,_jiu%E2%80%A6%22). ### Examples
- *如果* 明天 下雨 *的话* ，我们 **就** 不 去 了 。*Rúguǒ* míngtiān xiàyǔ *dehuà*, wǒmen **jiù** bù qù le.If it rains tomorrow, we won't go. - 别 点 那么 多 菜 。*如果* 吃 不 完 *的话* ，**就** 太 浪费 了 。Bié diǎn nàme duō cài. *Rúguǒ* chī bù wán *dehuà*, **jiù** tài làngfèi le.Don't order so much. It will be a big waste of food if we can't finish all. - *如果* 有 人 帮 他 *的话* ，他 **就** 不 会 出事 了 。*Rúguǒ* yǒu rén bāng tā *dehuà*, tā **jiù** bù huì chūshì le.If someone had helped him, he would't have had this accident. - *如果* 你们 不 来 *的话* ，一定 会 后悔 的 。*Rúguǒ* nǐmen bù lái *dehuà*, yīdìng huì hòuhuǐ de .If you don't come, you'll definitely regret it. - *如果* 他 不 同意 *的话* ，你 怎么办 ？*Rúguǒ* tā bù tóngyì *dehuà*, nǐ zěnmebàn?What will you do if he disapproves?
Simple Pattern ------------------------------------------------------------------- Colloquially, it's also possible to drop the 如果 and just use the 的话 instead to mean "if." 的话 is optional. ### Structure
⋯⋯ (的话) ，就 ⋯⋯
### Examples
- 不 想 去 *的话* **就** 别 去 了 。Bù xiǎng qù *dehuà* **jiù** bié qù le.Don't go if you don't feel like going. - 好吃 的 *的话* ，**就** 多 吃 点 。Hǎochī de *dehuà*, **jiù** duō chī diǎn.If you think it's tasty, eat some more. - 喜欢 **就** 拿走 吧 。Xǐhuan **jiù** názǒu ba.Take it if you like it.
It's even possible to use neither 的话 nor 就, and let the "if" be completely implied.
- 有 事 给 我 打电话 。Yǒu shì gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà.Give me a call if you need anything. - 有空 来 我 家 玩 。Yǒu kòng lái wǒ jiā wán.If you're not busy, come to my place so we can hang out.
Note that 如果 can be switched out for the various other terms for "if," including [the common 要是](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%22If%E2%80%A6_Then%E2%80%A6%22_with_%22yaoshi%22) (yàoshi) and [the formal 假如](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%22If%E2%80%A6_Then%E2%80%A6%22_with_%22jiaru%22) (jiǎrú), among others. See also ------------------------------------------------------- - ["If…, then…" with "ruguo…, jiu…"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%22If%E2%80%A6,_then%E2%80%A6%22_with_%22ruguo%E2%80%A6,_jiu%E2%80%A6%22) - ["If… Then…" with "yaoshi"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%22If%E2%80%A6_Then%E2%80%A6%22_with_%22yaoshi%22) - [Marking a topic with "de hua"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Marking_a_topic_with_%22de_hua%22) - ["Only if" with "zhiyou"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%22Only_if%22_with_%22zhiyou%22) Sources and further reading --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ### Books - [Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Modern_Mandarin_Chinese_Grammar:_A_Practical_Guide) (pp. 280) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2xCpX2m) ### Websties - Chinesegrammar.info: [Chinese grammar de hua (的话): expressing “if” in Chinese with de hua](http://chinesegrammar.info/vocabulary/de-hua-expressing-if/)
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