Chinese word

的话

Pronunciation

Pinyinde huà

Meaning

  • particleif

Example

你不来的话，我们就开始。nǐ bù lái de huà wǒ men jiù kāi shǐ

If you don't come, we'll start.

Illustration for 的话 (if)

More examples

你有空的话，我们一起去吃饭。nǐ yǒu kòng de huà wǒ men yì qǐ qù chī fàn

If you have time, let's go eat together.

Core concept

A conversational setup that puts one situation on the table and leaves the next step to follow.

Common phrases

  • 如果...的话rú guǒ de huà

    if ___

  • 有空的话yǒu kòng de huà

    if you have time

Definition in Chinese

把前项句子名词化以表示假设或前提，常与后句的结果或应对连用，相当于“如果……的话”，语气偏口语和随意。bǎ qián xiàng jù zi míng cí huà yǐ biǎo shì jiǎ shè huò qián tí cháng yǔ hòu jù de jié guǒ huò yìng duì lián yòng xiāng dāng yú rú guǒ de huà yǔ qì piān kóu yǔ hé suí yì

Word origin

的 (de, "nominalizer") + 话 (huà, "matter") makes the preceding situation into a matter to be discussed, so the phrase can introduce what follows from that situation.

Usage tips

  • Because the marker comes after the situation, it can make a long or detailed condition easy to hear as one complete block before the main response begins.

Word lists with this word