{{Grammar Box}} 


You probably already know that 的话 (de huà) can be put at the end of a phrase [["If…, then…" with "ruguo…, jiu…"|to express the meaning of "if."]] It can be used independently, or with 如果, both meaning "if."  But it can also be used to simply identify a topic, sort of like saying "when it comes to...."

== Structure ==

的话 can also be used to introduce a topic which the speaker intends to say more about.

<div class="jiegou">
Topic + 的话， Comment
</div>

===Examples===

<div class="liju">

* 云南 <em>的话</em>，春天 去 最好。<span class="trans">With Yunnan, spring is the best time to go.</span>
* 晚上 <em>的话</em>，当然 方便 啦。<span class="trans">The evening? Of course that's convenient.</span>
* 我 肯定 能 去 。 他<em>的话</em>，我 就 不知道 了。<span class="trans">I can definitely go. As for him though, I don't know.</span>

</div>

==See also==
*[["If…, then…" with "ruguo…, jiu…"]]
*[["For…" with "eryan"]]
*[[Limiting scope with "jiu"]]

==Sources & further reading==

=== Websties ===
* Chinesegrammar.info: [http://chinesegrammar.info/vocabulary/de-hua-expressing-if/ Chinese grammar de hua (的话): expressing “if” in Chinese with de hua]


[[Category: B2 grammar points]]
{{Basic Grammar|的话|B2|⋯⋯的话|荤菜 <em>的话</em> ， 我 喜欢 牛肉 。|grammar point|ASGB0MXK}}
{{Similar|"If…, then…" with "ruguo…, jiu…"}}
{{Similar|"For…" with "eryan"}}
{{Similar|Limiting Scope with "jiu"}}
{{Similar|The "if" sandwich pattern}}
{{Used for|Expressing possibility}}
{{Structure|"If" Statements}}