"If" StatementsHSK 5
Marking a topic with 的话
的话 is commonly known as a conditional marker meaning 'if,' but it can also simply mark a topic, much like saying 'as for…' in English. Place it after a noun or clause to draw attention to what you're about to comment on, and avoid confusing this usage with the conditional one when the sentence does not express an if–then relationship.
Structure
Topic + 的话 ，Comment
Examples
- 北京的话，秋天去最好。Běijīng dehuà , qiūtiān qù zuì hǎo.As for Beijing, autumn is the best time to go.
- 晚上的话，当然方便啦。Wǎnshang dehuà , dāngrán fāngbiàn la.The evening? Of course that's convenient.
- 这个问题的话，我不太方便说。Zhè ge wèntí dehuà , wǒ bù tài fāngbiàn shuō.As for this question, it's not convenient for me to talk about it.
- 葡萄的话，一定要吃最新鲜的。Pútao dehuà , yīdìng yào chī zuì xīnxiān de.For grapes, always eat the freshest ones.
- 我肯定能去。他的话，我就不知道了。Wǒ kěndìng néng qù. Tā dehuà , wǒ jiù bù zhīdào le.I can definitely go. As for him, I don't know.