要是 yàoshi if
if; suppose; in case
How to remember 要是: 要 want + 是 is = if.
Characters
How it is used
- 'If / suppose' - a colloquial conditional, often with 就 in the result - 要是明天下雨，我们就不去 (yàoshi míngtiān xiàyǔ, wǒmen jiù bú qù) if it rains tomorrow, we won't go.
- Spoken equivalent of 如果 (rúguǒ, if); 要是 is more casual, 如果 more neutral/written.
- Also 要是…就好了 (yàoshi… jiù hǎo le) 'if only…' for wishes: 要是我早点知道就好了 if only I'd known sooner.
Example sentences
- 要是能去日本就好了。 Yàoshì néng qù rìběn jiù hǎo le.I wish I could go to Japan.
- 要是我是你，我就会去。 Yàoshì wǒ shì nǐ, wǒ jiù huì qù.I would go if I were you.
- 要是你不来，我就跟你分手。 Yàoshi nǐ bù lái, wǒ jiù gēn nǐ fēnshǒu.If you don't come, I am going to break up with you.