HSK 2
如果...就 (If... Then) in Chinese
如果...就... states a condition and its result: 如果 + condition, (就) + result. 如果明天下雨，我就不去 — if it rains tomorrow, I won't go. 就 opens the result clause and stays before its verb. Like other Chinese pairs, you can drop 如果 or 就. The standard teaching pattern puts the condition first, while spoken Chinese can add a condition afterward as clarification.
STRUCTURE
如果 + Condition, (那)就 + Result clause
When to use 如果…就 — and when not
Use it when
- Condition then result: 如果你有时间，就来吧。
- Dropping 如果, keeping 就: 有问题就问我。
- 的话 as a softer condition marker: 明天下雨的话，我就不去。
Don't use it when
- 就 before the subject of the result clause — it goes before the verb: 我就不去, not 就我不去。
- Putting 就 inside the condition clause — 就 normally introduces the result: 如果你有时间，就来吧。
- 所以 in the result clause — a conditional result uses 就, not the cause–effect 所以。
Right vs. wrong
如果下雨，就我不去。
如果下雨，我就不去。
就 placed before the subject of the result clause
就 goes before the verb in the result clause, after its subject: 我就不去. Placing 就 before the subject 我 breaks the structure.
如果你来，所以我很高兴。
如果你来，我就很高兴。
所以 used instead of 就 in the result
A conditional result takes 就, not 所以. 所以 is for a real cause–effect; 如果 sets up an "if", so its result clause uses 就.
Examples
如果明天下雨，我就不去。
Rúguǒ míngtiān xià yǔ, wǒ jiù bú qù.
If it rains tomorrow, I won't go.
如果你有时间，就来吧。
Rúguǒ nǐ yǒu shíjiān, jiù lái ba.
If you have time, come over.
有问题就问我。
Yǒu wèntí jiù wèn wǒ.
If you have questions, ask me.
如果你喜欢，就买吧。
Rúguǒ nǐ xǐhuan, jiù mǎi ba.
If you like it, buy it.
明天下雨的话，我就在家。
Míngtiān xià yǔ de huà, wǒ jiù zài jiā.
If it rains tomorrow, I'll stay home.
Common mistakes
如果下雨，就我不去。
Rúguǒ xià yǔ, jiù wǒ bú qù.
就 goes before the verb, after the subject: 如果下雨，我就不去。
如果你来，所以我很高兴。
Rúguǒ nǐ lái, suǒyǐ wǒ hěn gāoxìng.
A conditional result uses 就, not 所以: 如果你来，我就很高兴。
如果你就有时间，来吧。
Rúguǒ nǐ jiù yǒu shíjiān, lái ba.
就 belongs in the result clause: 如果你有时间，就来吧。
Think you've got it?
Write your own 如果…就 sentence and check that grammar point first.
如果...就 (If... Then) FAQ
How does 如果...就 work?
如果 + condition, then 就 + result: 如果你来，我就很高兴 (if you come, I'll be happy). 就 opens the result clause and sits before the verb.
Do I need both 如果 and 就?
No. You can drop 如果 (有问题就问我) or drop 就, but keeping both is common and clear. The standard pattern puts the condition first; a condition may also be added afterward in speech as clarification.
What is 的话?
A softer condition marker at the end of the condition clause: 明天下雨的话，我就不去. You can use 如果...的话 together, or just 的话.