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.)