(yào shi) - if, in case, supposing in Mandarin

yàoshi

Traditional: 要是

HSK 3

#300 of 5,000 Core 1000

Translation

if, in case, supposing

Word origin

A compound of 要 (yào, here 'if it be') and 是 (shì, 'to be'), giving the conditional 'if, supposing'. 是 combines 日 (rì, 'sun') over 正 (zhèng) and originally meant 'correct, this'.

Origin: compound
Root: 要 (yào, 'if') + 是 (shì, 'to be')

Stroke order

要

是

Examples

。

It would be great if you came.

雨yǔ？

What if it rains?

。

If only I had money.

雨yǔ，。

If it rains tomorrow, we won't go.

。

If he refuses, there is nothing we can do.

要是 (yào shi) means if, in case, supposing. It is used as a conjunction in everyday Mandarin speech.

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要是: worksheet, infographic and listicle

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This word is part of lesson 6.