Conditional Conjunction 如果…就… (rúguǒ…jiù…) – If… Then…

Pattern

• 如果 + Condition ，就 + Result
• 如果 + Condition + 的话 ，就 + Result

Usage

• The correlative conditional pair 如果…就… (rúguǒ…jiù…) is the standard structure for hypothetical conditional statements in Chinese, translating as “if... then...”.
• The first clause initiated by 如果 presents the condition, while the second clause with 就 introduces the resultant outcome.
• Speakers frequently append 的话 (dehuà) at the end of the condition to reinforce the hypothetical tone: 如果你有时间的话，就来我家玩吧 ('If you have time, come over to my place').
• In conversational registers, 要是 (yàoshi) can freely substitute for 如果 with a slightly more intimate feel.
• In informal speech,

Examples

1. 1

   如果明天下雨,我就不去了。

   Rúguǒ míngtiān xià yǔ, wǒ jiù bú qù le.

   If it rains tomorrow, then I will not go.

2. 2

   如果你有时间的话,就来我家玩吧。

   Rúguǒ nǐ yǒu shíjiān dehuà, jiù lái wǒ jiā wán ba.

   If you have time, come over to my home to hang out.

3. 3

   如果他不来,我们就走。

   Rúguǒ tā bù lái, wǒmen jiù zǒu.

   If he does not come, we will leave.