Jump to content
Chinese-Forums
  • Sign Up

要是 and 如果 - What's' the difference?


in_lab

Recommended Posts

Inspired by the "danshi or keshi" thread, I wanted to ask about the difference between 要是 and 如果 for "if." When I was in Chinese class, we learned 要是 first, and didn't learn 如果 for about three months. However, it seems that 如果 is much more common in daily speech. But when I pronounce "ruguo" I have a tendency to stutter on the first syllable, so I asked a friend, can't I just give up saying "ruguo" and switch to "yaoshi"? My friend said no, but I don't understand why. Does "yaoshi" sound old-fashioned or strange?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

hi,in_lab

I think '如果' is always in the sentence like '如果……就','要是' is in '要是……那么(就)'

for example:

如果你听懂了,你就点点头。

if you use '要是',

for example:

要是你听懂了,那么你(就)点点头。

Hope it helps.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

something else:

要是 is usually used in oral but on occasion it is somewhat offensive and threatening,for example:

要是你还不停止哭闹,今天晚上就别吃饭了

要是 is stronger than 如果.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

When I review this post I suddenly suppose other opinion maybe it is impossible :P

On pronouncing 要是 sound like 要死?Have you heard from other friends talk about this?Perhaps if you say 要是 always puzzle your friends?

good lucky.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and select your username and password later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Click here to reply. Select text to quote.

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...