Tomyo
ruen

How to say “if… then…” in Chinese with 要是 (yàoshi)

要是 (yàoshi)⋯⋯，就 (jiù)⋯⋯

要是 (yào shì) — if… then…

HSK 4"If" Statements

Rule structure

要是 (yàoshi) is the most common colloquial "if". Often paired with 就 (jiù) in the second clause. It can express real or hypothetical conditions.

Examples

要是你早说，我就帮你了。

Yàoshi nǐ zǎo shuō, wǒ jiù bāng nǐ le.

If you had said so earlier, I would have helped you.

要是明天下雨就不去。

Yàoshì míngtiān xiàyǔ jiù bù qù.

If it rains tomorrow, then I won't go.

要是你坐地铁就快多了。

Yàoshì nǐ zuòdìtiě jiù kuài duō le.

If you take the subway, it will be much faster

Practice

Build the sentence

Drag the characters to put them in the correct order

Characters

Words from this rule

要是

yàoshi

If, suppose

就

jiù

Immediately, exactly, then, and... (adverb)

你

nǐ

You

早

zǎo

Early

说

shuō

To speak, to say, to tell

我

wǒ

I, me

帮

bāng

To help

了

le

Particle (completed action or change of state)

明天

míng tiān

Tomorrow

下雨

xià yǔ

To rain

不

bù

No, not

去

qù

To go

Frequently asked questions

How do you say “if… then…” in Chinese with 要是?

Use the structure: 要是 (yàoshi)⋯⋯，就 (jiù)⋯⋯. For example: 要是你早说，我就帮你了。 — “If you had said so earlier, I would have helped you”.

What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?

要是你早说，我就帮你了。 — “If you had said so earlier, I would have helped you”.

Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?

This grammar rule is part of HSK 4.

Tomyo

Learn Chinese grammar with smart reviews

Grammar explanations, exercises and spaced repetition — all in one app.

Download the app

More HSK 4 grammar rules

全 — whole, entire

全 (quán) + Measure Word + Noun

到 — until (time/place/degree)

Verb + 到 (dào) + Time / Place / Degree

连 + verb — not even

连 (lián) + Verb + 都 (dōu) + 不 (bù) / 没 (méi) + Verb

原来 — it turns out, originally

Subj. + 原来 (yuánlái) + Predicate

得 — must, have to

Subj. + 得 (děi) + Verb Phrase

不管 — no matter

不管 (bùguǎn)⋯⋯，都 (dōu) / 也 (yě)⋯⋯

无论 — no matter what

无论 (wúlùn) / 不论 (bùlùn)⋯⋯，都 (dōu) / 也 (yě)⋯⋯

难道 — rhetorical question “isn’t it…?”

难道 (nándào) + Statement + 吗 (ma)?