的话 dehuà if (coming after a conditional clause)
怎么记住“的话”: 的 of + 话 speech = if (coming after a conditional clause).
汉字
用法
- Tails a condition to mark 'if' - 你来的话，叫我 (nǐ lái dehuà, jiào wǒ) if you come, call me.
- Often pairs with a front 如果/要是 (rúguǒ/yàoshi) that opens the clause: 如果下雨的话 (rúguǒ xiàyǔ dehuà) if it rains - but 的话 alone at the end is enough.
- Don't confuse with the noun 话 (huà) 'words/speech'; here 的话 is a fixed clause-final tag, neutral tone dehuà.
例句
- 要听老师的话。 Yào tīng lǎoshī dehuà.Obey your teachers.
- 我不明白他说的话。 Wǒ bù míngbái tā shuō dehuà.I don't understand what he said.
- 我不理解你说的话。 Wǒ bù lǐjiě nǐ shuō de huà.I don't understand what you said.