Chinese word

如果

Pronunciation

Pinyinrú guǒ

Meaning

  • conjunctionif

Example

如果你有问题，随时问我。rú guǒ nǐ yǒu wèn tí suí shí wèn wǒ

If you have any questions, ask me anytime.

Illustration for 如果 (if)

More examples

如果你有空，我们周末去看电影。rú guǒ nǐ yǒu kòng wǒ men zhōu mò qù kàn diàn yǐng

If you have time, let's go see a movie this weekend.

Core concept

A fork in the road where one path is taken only when a stated condition holds.

Common phrases

  • 如果...就...rú guǒ jiù

    if ___ then ___

  • 如果...的话rú guǒ de huà

    if ___

  • 如果有空rú guǒ yǒu kòng

    if you have time

Similar words

要是yào shì: Sets up a possible condition in everyday conversation.
假如jiǎ rú: Sets up a possible condition in more formal writing or speech.

Definition in Chinese

表示在某种条件下的假设情况或可能性，相当于“如果……就……”用于引出前提并说明在该前提下可能发生的结果。biǎo shì zài móu zhǒng tiáo jiàn xià de jiǎ shè qíng kuàng huò kě néng xìng xiāng dāng yú rú guǒ jiù yòng yú yǐn chū qián tí bìng shuō míng zài gāi qián tí xià kě néng fā shēng de jié guǒ

Word origin

如 (rú, "as if") + 果 (guǒ, "result") presents a possible situation before its consequence, a pattern that developed into the modern word for a condition.

Usage tips

  • The matching result marker is often omitted in ordinary speech, so the condition word can stand alone while the outcome remains clear from context.

Other meanings

  • supposingconjunction

Word lists with this word