如果 rúguǒ — if, supposing that
rúguǒ (second tone, rising)ru2guo3
if, supposing that
HSK 3· HSK 1–4 (classic)Level 3· Three-band, nine-level standardconjunction
Meanings
if, supposing that
Opens a condition. The second clause normally answers with 就: 如果明天下雨，我们就不去了. 如果 may be dropped in speech, but the answering 就 rarely is.
conjunction
Example sentences
- 如果明天下雨，我们就不去了。如果明天下雨，我們就不去了。Rúguǒ (second tone, rising) míngtiān (second tone, rising) xià (fourth tone, falling) yǔ, (third tone, dipping) wǒmen (third tone, dipping) jiù (fourth tone, falling) bú (second tone, rising) qù (fourth tone, falling) le. (neutral tone)···
If it rains tomorrow, we won’t go.
- 如果你有问题，可以问老师。如果你有問題，可以問老師。Rúguǒ (second tone, rising) nǐ (third tone, dipping) yǒu (third tone, dipping) wèntí, (fourth tone, falling) kěyǐ (third tone, dipping) wèn (fourth tone, falling) lǎoshī. (third tone, dipping)···
If you have a question, you can ask the teacher.
Common mistakes
Not quite如果明天下雨，我们不去了。
Correct如果明天下雨，我们就不去了。
A Chinese conditional is a pair: 如果 sets the condition, 就 delivers the consequence. Leaving out 就 makes the second clause sound like an unconnected statement.