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如果 (rú guǒ) — if, in case, supposing

Definition

如果 is the neutral, all-purpose 'if' for both spoken and written Chinese. 要是 is more colloquial; 假如 and 倘若 are more formal/literary.

conjunction
ifin casesupposing

Examples

  • 如果，。
    rú guǒ Nǐ lèi le, jiù xiū xi ba.
    If you're tired, then rest.
  • 如果，。
    rú guǒ Xià yǔ, wǒ men jiù zài jiā kàn diàn yǐng.
    If it rains, we'll stay home and watch a movie.
  • 如果，。
    rú guǒ Nǐ yǒu shí jiān, lái wǒ jiā wán ba.
    If you have time, come over to my place.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

如rúif
果guǒif

Both 如 and 果 point to a hypothetical condition, so together they mean if.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
女
女nǚ如rú
Same sound today

如 is built from 口 (mouth) for its meaning and 女 (woman) for its sound.

Open 如 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

果 originally drew fruits hanging on a tree.

Open 果 →

Grammar

Appears in
100 Most Frequent Chinese WordsHSK 3.0 Level 3500 Most Frequent Chinese WordsHSK 2.0 Level 31000 Most Frequent Chinese WordsCause, Effect & Logic

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