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.

如果 + Statement + 就 + Result

Examples

Rúguǒ bù hǎohǎo fùxí, nǐ jiù wúfǎ tōngguò míngtiān de kǎoshì.
如果 不 好好 复习,你就 无法 通过 明天 的 考试。
If you don't review well, you won't be able to pass tomorrow's test.
Tā rúguǒ bù míliàn wǎngluò yóuxì, jiù néng kǎo shàng hǎo de dàxué.
他 如果 不 迷恋 网络 游戏,就能考上好的大学 。
If he hadn't been so addicted to the video games,he would have been admitted to a better university.

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

如果 + Statement + 的话, (就)Result

Examples

Rúguǒ nǐ qù de huà, bāng wǒ gēn tā wènhǎo.
如果 你 去 的话,帮 我 跟 她 问 好。
If you go, tell her I say hello.

Rúguǒ xià cì yǒu shíjiān de huà, yīdìng yào zhǎo wǒ wán er.

如果 下次 有 时间 的话,一定 要 找 我 玩儿。

When you have time, you need to find me so we can hang out.

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

如果 + Statement, 那么(就) + Result

Examples

Rúguǒ nǐ bù qù, nàme wǒ yě bù qù.
如果 你 不 去,那么 我 也 不 去。
Rúguǒ tā zhīdào le, nàme tā yīdìng huì lái gàosù wǒ.
如果 他 知道 了,那么 他 一 定 会 来 告诉 我。