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如果

rú guǒ
HSK 2.0 Level 3 HSK 3.0 Level 3 Conjunction Very common

Definitions

  1. 1. if
  2. 2. in case
  3. 3. in the event that

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Word relationships

Register variants

1 item
假如
jiǎ rú

if

假如 is more formal and literary for 'if'.

Related words

2 items
即使
jí shǐ

even if; even though

即使 means 'even if', a concessive conjunction.
除非
chú fēi

only if (..., or otherwise, ...)

除非 means 'unless', often used in conditional sentences.

Synonyms

1 item
要是
yào shi

(coll.) if

Both mean 'if', 要是 is more colloquial.

Usage notes

Collocations

如果 is often paired with 的话 at the end of the clause to soften the condition, e.g., 如果你去的话, 我也去. The 的话 is optional and more conversational.

Common mistakes

Do not confuse 如果 with 只要 (as long as) or 只有 (only if). 如果 indicates a simple condition, not a necessary one.

Grammar

Guides that feature 如果

Jump into a full guide with fill-in-the-blank drills. Clicking will load the page and move you to the top.

4 guides
HSK 2.0 Level 5+ HSK 3.0 Level 5+ 6 min
假如...，（就）... for “Suppose” and “If”

假如 means “if, suppose” and is a little more formal than 如果; it is good for imagined situations like 假如你是校长.

Reading: rú guǒ Open guide
HSK 2.0 Level 3+ HSK 3.0 Level 3+ 6 min
...的话，就... for “If … Then”

Close an “if” clause with 的话 and link the result with 就.

Reading: rú guǒ Open guide
HSK 2.0 Level 4+ HSK 3.0 Level 4+ 6 min
Condition Chains

Build longer conditional sentences without losing the relationship.

Reading: rú guǒ Open guide
HSK 2.0 Level 3+ HSK 3.0 Level 3+ 6 min
如果...就...

Make if-then sentences for plans, rules, and likely outcomes.

Reading: rú guǒ Open guide

Example Sentences

5 shown
如果 你不去，我就不去。
If you don't go, then I won't go.
如果 你有空的话，我们去看电影吧。
If you are free, let's go watch a movie.
如果 太善良，有时候会吃亏。
If you are too kind, sometimes you will be taken advantage of.
如果 我有時間我會來。
Source: Tatoeba.org (ID 1180719)
如果 你忙，我會幫你。
Source: Tatoeba.org (ID 858718)

Sentence data courtesy of Tatoeba.org. AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Words Containing 如果

如果说
rú guǒ shuō

if

Child Words of 如果

如
rú

as

果
guǒ

fruit