如果...就 (If... Then) in Chinese
如果…就
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.
Published July 9, 2026
Reviewed July 9, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
如果 + Condition, (那)就 + Result clause
Read the structure
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. Keep the model 如果 + Condition, (那)就 + Result clause visible while you compare each sentence.
如果明天下雨，我就不去。
If it rains tomorrow, I won't go.
Choose the right context
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。
如果你有时间，就来吧。
If you have time, come over.
Respect the boundary
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。
如果下雨，就我不去。
(If it rains, I won't go.)
Repair the pattern
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. 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.
如果下雨，我就不去。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
如果明天下雨，我就不去。
If it rains tomorrow, I won't go.
如果
如果
This part occupies the 如果 position in the model pattern.
明天
Condition, (那)就
This part occupies the Condition, (那)就 position in the model pattern.
下雨
Result clause
This part occupies the Result clause position in the model pattern.
，
如果
This part occupies the 如果 position in the model pattern.
我
Condition, (那)就
This part occupies the Condition, (那)就 position in the model pattern.
就
Result clause
This part occupies the Result clause position in the model pattern.
不去
如果
This part occupies the 如果 position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
如果明天下雨，我就不去。
If it rains tomorrow, I won't go.
如果你有时间，就来吧。
If you have time, come over.
有问题就问我。
If you have questions, ask me.
如果你喜欢，就买吧。
If you like it, buy it.
明天下雨的话，我就在家。
If it rains tomorrow, I'll stay home.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
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。
Do not 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。
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
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.
如果下雨，就我不去。
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。
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。
就 belongs in the result clause: 如果你有时间，就来吧。
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 如果…就.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 如果…就. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
如果...就 (If... Then) Questions
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.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide, 3rd ed.
Ross, Ma, Chen, He and Yeh · Routledge · 2024
Locator: Construction index and function chapters relevant to 如果…就
Supports the learner-facing account of where 如果…就 appears and what communicative job it performs.
Official sourceChinese: A Comprehensive Grammar, 2nd ed.
Yip and Rimmington · Routledge · 2016
Locator: Relevant sentence and clause chapters for 如果…就
Cross-checks the 如果 + Condition, (那)就 + Result clause pattern, clause relationship, and limits represented by the reviewed examples.
Official sourceChinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: Appendix A, Level 2 grammar inventory
Supports directory placement at HSK 2; it does not independently prove usage rules.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Compare
万一…（就）…万一... (wànyī): In Case
Compare a neutral condition with a feared or low-probability contingency introduced by 万一.
Easy to confuse
假如…（就）…假如...就...: Suppose That
Distinguish neutral 如果 from explicit supposition introduced by 假如.
Continue learning
要是……（就）……，否则……要是…（就）…，否则… Conditional Warnings
Continue from a basic condition-result pair to an explicit otherwise alternative.
Continue learning
假设复句Hypothetical Sentence Groups
Connect the focused 如果 pattern to the broader family of hypothetical sentence groups.
RECOMMENDED NEXT
Compare
Compare a neutral condition with a feared or low-probability contingency introduced by 万一.