如果...就...
Reach for this when you want to say 'if X, then Y.' 如果 sets up a condition; 就 delivers the consequence. It's the most versatile conditional in Chinese — works for real possibilities ('if it rains, I'll stay home'), hypotheticals ('if I were rich...'), and offers ('if you're hungry, just eat'). You'll use it daily.
Structure
如果 [CONDITION], [SUBJECT] 就 [RESULT]
rúguǒ... jiù...
How to Think About It
Unlike English 'if/then', the Chinese pair lives in different positions: 如果 lives at the START of the condition clause; 就 lives right BEFORE the verb of the result clause, not at the start. So the subject of the result clause sits between them: '如果你来, 我就高兴.' Putting 就 at the front of the clause ('如果你来, 就我高兴') is a common learner error.
Examples
如果明天下雨, 我就不去。
Rúguǒ míngtiān xiàyǔ, wǒ jiù bú qù.
If it rains tomorrow, I won't go.
如果你饿了, 就先吃饭吧。
Rúguǒ nǐ è le, jiù xiān chīfàn ba.
If you're hungry, just eat first.
如果有问题, 你就问我。
Rúguǒ yǒu wèntí, nǐ jiù wèn wǒ.
If you have any questions, just ask me.
Common Mistake
English-speaking learners place 就 too early in the result clause, treating it like 'then' which floats at the start. In Chinese 就 anchors to the verb. The subject of the result clause must come BEFORE 就, not after.
如果明天下雨, 就我不去。
如果明天下雨, 我就不去。
Don't Confuse With
只要...就...
只要 means 'AS LONG AS' — a sufficient condition that always triggers the result. 如果 is more neutral ('if X happens'). 只要你来我就高兴 = 'as long as you come I'm happy (no other condition needed)'; 如果你来我就高兴 = 'if you come I'd be happy (maybe you won't).'
要是...就...
Same meaning, more colloquial. 要是 is what you'll hear in casual speech; 如果 works in both speech and writing. Interchangeable in most contexts.
的话
的话 is a softer, optional tag added at the end of the condition clause: '明天下雨的话, 我就不去.' Often combined with 如果 or used alone. Feels gentler, more tentative.
Practice
___ 你不来, 我们就不开始。
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如果
如果你累了, 你 ___ 休息一下吧。
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就
Put in order: [如果 / 就 / 在家 / 太冷 / 我 / 外面 / 我]
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如果外面太冷, 我就在家。
Translate to Chinese: 'If you have time, come over to my place.'
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如果你有时间, 就来我家。
Write one sentence about your weekend plans using 如果...就....
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Example answer: 如果周末天气好, 我就去公园。 (If the weather is nice this weekend, I'll go to the park.)
Hear It in Real Episodes
This pattern appears in 20 Fluentide episodes:
如果拆开了，其他的卖票公司就有机会竞争了。
如果携程能通过数据证明。
如果结果好，也许中国会有更多公司跟着做。
Related Grammar Patterns
Acquire by listening
Hear 如果...就... in real Chinese, not in a textbook.
Fluentide picks the next news episode at your level, so this pattern shows up again and again in real context. The transcript marks it, the audio drills it. Free to start, no card.