Conditional Sentences: “要是……，就……”

In Chinese, the pattern “要是……，就……” (yàoshi..., jiù...) expresses a supposition or a condition.

The first clause states the condition, the second the result that follows if that condition is met.

Basic structure

要是 + condition，就 + result

If …, then …

要(Yào)是(shi)申(shēn)请(qǐng)到(dào)奖(jiǎng)学(xué)金(jīn)，就(jiù)能(néng)减(jiǎn)轻(qīng)不(bù)少(shǎo)经(jīng)济(jì)压(yā)力(lì)。

If I manage to get a scholarship, it will relieve a lot of financial pressure.

要是 + 申请到奖学金，+ 就 + 能减轻不少经济压力 if + one gets a scholarship + then + it relieves a lot of financial pressure

要是 — if 申请到奖学金 — manage to get a scholarship 就 — then 能减轻 — can relieve 不少经济压力 — quite a lot of financial pressure

你(Nǐ)要(yào)是(shi)明(míng)天(tiān)有(yǒu)时(shí)间(jiān)，就(jiù)跟(gēn)我(wǒ)一(yì)起(qǐ)去(qù)爬(pá)山(shān)吧(ba)。

If you have time tomorrow, come climbing with me.

你 + 要是 + 明天有时间，+ 就 + 跟我一起去爬山吧 you + if + have time tomorrow + then + come climbing with me

明天有时间 — have time tomorrow 跟我一起 — together with me 去爬山 — go mountain climbing 吧 — suggestion particle

要(Yào)是(shi)她(tā)不(bù)愿(yuàn)意(yì)参(cān)加(jiā)比(bǐ)赛(sài)，我(wǒ)们(men)就(jiù)再(zài)问(wèn)问(wen)别(bié)人(rén)。

If she doesn’t want to take part in the competition, then we’ll go and ask someone else.

要是 + 她不愿意参加比赛，+ 我们就 + 再问问别人 if + she doesn’t want to take part + then we + will ask someone else

不愿意 — be unwilling 参加比赛 — take part in a competition 我们就 — then we 再问问别人 — go and ask someone else

要是 + condition，就 + result

The first part states a supposition or condition, the second the result when it is fulfilled.

要(Yào)是(shi)明(míng)天(tiān)有(yǒu)时(shí)间(jiān)，就(jiù)一(yì)起(qǐ)去(qù)。

If there’s time tomorrow, we’ll go together.

要(Yào)是(shi)她(tā)不(bù)愿(yuàn)意(yì)，我(wǒ)们(men)就(jiù)问(wèn)别(bié)人(rén)。

If she doesn’t want to, then we’ll ask someone else.