(jiǎ rú) - if, supposing, in the event that in Mandarin
jiǎrúTraditional: 假如
Translation
if, supposing, in the event that
Word origin
A compound of 假 (jiǎ, false, to suppose) and 如 (rú, as if, like), so literally supposing it were so.
- Origin
- compound
- Root
- 假 (jiǎ, suppose) + 如 (rú, as if)
Stroke order
假
如
Examples
，？
If you were me, what would you do?
，。
If it rains tomorrow, we will not go.
，。
If he asks, just say I do not know.
，？
If one day you left, what would I do?
，。
Without you, this would have fallen apart long ago.
假如 (jiǎ rú) introduces a hypothetical condition. It sits at the front of the clause, and the main clause that follows usually picks up 就 or 那么: 假如下雨，我们就不去了.
It is interchangeable with 如果 and 要是 in most sentences, with a small tilt in register. 要是 is the most colloquial, 如果 is neutral and by far the commonest, and 假如 leans slightly literary and slightly more imaginary. That makes it the natural choice for a genuine what if: 假如我是你.
The trap is word order. English can bury the if in the middle of a sentence, but Chinese wants the condition first. 我们就不去了假如明天下雨 is not an option. Keep the condition clause up front and let 就 do the work in the second half.
Where this fits
Used in
Grammar articles
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假如: worksheet, infographic and listicle
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Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 41.