如若 (rú ruò) — if, supposing (formal, literary)

Definition

如若 (rú ruò) is a formal, written 'if' used in conditional clauses, especially in formal writing and proverbs. It sounds more literary than the everyday 如果.

conjunction
ifsupposing (formal, literary)

Examples

  • 如若，。
    rú ruò Nǐ yù dào kùn nan, qǐng suí shí lián xì wǒ men.
    If you encounter difficulties, please contact us at any time.
  • 如若，。
    rú ruò Shì qing yǒu biàn, wǒ huì tí qián tōng zhī nǐ.
    If things change, I will notify you in advance.
  • 如若，。
    rú ruò Bù nǔ lì, zài hǎo de jī huì yě wú jì yú shì.
    If you don't work hard, even the best opportunities will be of no use.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

如rúif or as
若ruòif or as

如 and 若 both carry the sense of if or as, and together form a formal conditional.

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.

若 began as a picture of a person combing their hair, associated with obedience.

Open 若 →

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