要是

yàoshi

Meaning

要是 is a conjunction meaning “if”. It introduces a condition or supposition, usually in the pattern 要是……（的话），就……: 要是 marks the condition, 就 the result.

Basic structure

要是 + Clause +（的话），就 + Result

Examples

要(Yào)是(shi)健(jiàn)康(kāng)是(shì)一(yī)，其(qí)他(tā)都(dōu)是(shì)一(yī)后(hòu)面(miàn)的(de)零(líng)。

If health is a one, everything else is the zeros that follow it.

要(Yào)是(shi)你(nǐ)想(xiǎng)来(lái)中(Zhōng)国(guó)的(de)大(dà)学(xué)留(liú)学(xué)，和(hé)中(Zhōng)国(guó)学(xué)生(shēng)一(yī)起(qǐ)学(xué)习(xí)专(zhuān)业(yè)课(kè)，那(nà)么(me)就(jiù)需(xū)要(yào)做(zuò)好(hǎo)这(zhè)些(xiē)准(zhǔn)备(bèi)。

If you want to study at a Chinese university and take subject courses alongside Chinese students, then you need to make these preparations.

要(Yào)是(shi)质(zhì)量(liàng)比(bǐ)别(bié)人(rén)的(de)好(hǎo)的(de)话(huà)，那(nà)么(me)价(jià)格(gé)贵(guì)一(yì)点儿(diǎnr)也(yě)是(shì)可(kě)以(yǐ)接(jiē)受(shòu)的(de)。

If the quality is better than the rest, then a slightly higher price is acceptable.

Common patterns

要是……就…… — if… then… 要是……的话…… — if… 要是不……就…… — if not…

要是 vs. 如果

要(Yào)是(shi)有(yǒu)时(shí)间(jiān)，我(wǒ)们(men)一(yī)起(qǐ)去(qù)吧(ba)。

If you've got time, let's go together.

如(Rú)果(guǒ)有(yǒu)时(shí)间(jiān)，我(wǒ)们(men)一(yī)起(qǐ)去(qù)吧(ba)。

If you have time, let's go together.

要是 → more colloquial. 如果 → more common in writing and formal speech.

要是 vs. 假如

假(Jiǎ)如(rú)我(wǒ)是(shì)你(nǐ)，我(wǒ)会(huì)接(jiē)受(shòu)。

If I were you, I'd accept.

要是 → everyday conversation. 假如 → more for hypothetical, imagined situations.

Remember: 要是 = if. It usually pairs with 就. It sounds more conversational than 如果.