Definition
要是 (yào shì) is the most common colloquial way to say 'if' in everyday spoken Chinese. It's less formal than 如果 (rú guǒ), which works in both speech and writing, and much less literary than 假如 (jiǎ rú) or 若是 (ruò shì). Use 要是 in casual conversation for real or hypothetical conditions.
conjunction
(colloquial) if
Easily confused
- 钥匙yào shisound-alikekey
Examples
- 要是，。yào shi míngtiān bú xià yǔ, wǒmen jiù qù gōngyuán.If it doesn't rain tomorrow, we'll go to the park.
- 要是，。yào shi nǐ è le, bīngxiāng lǐ yǒu chī de.If you're hungry, there's food in the fridge.
- 要是，。yào shi tā bù tóngyì, wǒmen děi zài shāngliang.If he doesn't agree, we'll have to discuss it again.
Grammar
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