Conditional Sentences: 如果…就, 只要…就
A conditional sentence names a condition and its result, with 就 (jiù) opening the result. 如果…就… is the hypothetical 'if…then', and 只要…就… means 'as long as…then'.
只要 (zhǐyào, 'as long as') is stronger than 如果 — it means the condition alone is enough, no exceptions needed. Structure: 只要 + Condition，就 + Result.
- 如果...就... = 'if...then...' (general hypothetical)
- 只要...就... = 'as long as...then...' (minimum sufficient condition)
如果下雨，我不去。is grammatical on its own — the 就 is what a speaker actually says:
✅ 如果下雨，我就不去。
Worked examples
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 如果明天下雨，我就不去公园了。 | Rú guǒ míng tiān xià yǔ, wǒ jiù bú qù gōng yuán le. | If it rains tomorrow, I won't go to the park. | Minimal 如果...就 frame with a negated result. |
| 如果你有问题，就可以问老师。 | Rú guǒ nǐ yǒu wèn tí, jiù kě yǐ wèn lǎo shī. | If you have a question, you can ask the teacher. | Adds the modal 可以 after 就. |
| 只要你每天学习，就一定能学好中文。 | Zhǐ yào nǐ měi tiān xué xí, jiù yī dìng néng xué hǎo Zhōng wén. | As long as you study every day, you can definitely learn Chinese well. | 只要 (stronger, sufficient-condition) replaces 如果; adds 一定 (certainly). |
Word by word
Each word in this pattern on its own: what it does here, the structure, three more examples, and the mistake to avoid.
如果…就 (rú guǒ…jiù)
Gives a condition and what follows from it.
Structure: 如果 + condition, 就 + result
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 如果你不舒服，就回家休息吧。 | Rú guǒ nǐ bù shū fu, jiù huí jiā xiū xi ba. | If you do not feel well, go home and rest. |
| 如果明天不忙，我就去看你。 | Rú guǒ míng tiān bù máng, wǒ jiù qù kàn nǐ. | If I am not busy tomorrow, I will come and see you. |
| 如果天气好，我们就骑车去。 | Rú guǒ tiān qì hǎo, wǒ men jiù qí chē qù. | If the weather is good, we will go by bike. |
Not: 如果你累了，我们走就吧。 就 sits right before the verb, not at the end: 我们就走吧.
只要…就 (zhǐ yào…jiù)
Says one condition is enough.
Structure: 只要 + condition, 就 + result
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 只要多听多说，你就会进步。 | Zhǐ yào duō tīng duō shuō, nǐ jiù huì jìn bù. | As long as you listen and speak more, you will improve. |
| 只要有时间，我就来看你。 | Zhǐ yào yǒu shí jiān, wǒ jiù lái kàn nǐ. | As long as I have time, I will visit you. |
| 只要你愿意，我就帮你。 | Zhǐ yào nǐ yuàn yì, wǒ jiù bāng nǐ. | As long as you are willing, I will help you. |
Not: 只要你努力，就你能成功。 就 follows the subject: 你就能成功.
Compared side by side: 如果 vs 只要.
What you need first
Every topic in GraphChinese names its own prerequisites, and these are the grammar points this one is built on. If a sentence here will not parse, one of them is why.
What this opens up
These patterns list Conditional Sentences among their own prerequisites, so they become readable once this one holds.
Questions about Conditional Sentences
What does 假设/条件复句 (Conditional Sentences) mean in Chinese?
A conditional sentence names a condition and its result, with 就 (jiù) opening the result. 如果…就… is the hypothetical 'if…then', and 只要…就… means 'as long as…then'. It is an HSK 2 grammar point.
How do you use 假设/条件复句 (Conditional Sentences) in a sentence?
如果明天下雨，我就不去公园了。 — Rú guǒ míng tiān xià yǔ, wǒ jiù bú qù gōng yuán le. — If it rains tomorrow, I won't go to the park. Minimal 如果...就 frame with a negated result.
What do you need to know before 假设/条件复句 (Conditional Sentences)?
Conjunctions (HSK 2). This pattern is built out of them, so a sentence here that will not parse usually means one of them has not landed yet.
What does 假设/条件复句 (Conditional Sentences) lead to?
Conditional & Purpose Clauses (HSK 3). Each of them names 假设/条件复句 (Conditional Sentences) among its own prerequisites.
What is the difference between 如果 and 只要?
如果 gives any condition, 'if'. 只要 says this one condition is enough, 'as long as'. 只要你来，我就高兴 means your coming is all it takes.
Can I drop 就?
In speech 就 is often dropped after 如果, as in 如果下雨，我不去。 After 只要 it is better to keep it.
Conditional Sentences is one topic of 829. GraphChinese teaches them in prerequisite order, so this pattern reaches you on the day everything it rests on is proven. The whole course, HSK 0 through HSK 6, is $49 once for lifetime access.
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