<h1>假如 Jiǎrú - if</h1>
<p>Generally used. In most case, it's for something that wouldn't happen.</p>
<h1>要是 Yàoshi - if</h1>
<p>Mostly used in <code>最近雾霾这么厉害，要是我离开北京就好了</code> - <code>It'd be great if I had left Beijing! The air pollution is so heavy here.</code></p>
<h1>若是 Ruòshì - if</h1>
<p>Literally used, similar to <code>要是</code></p>
<h1>如果 Rúguǒ - if / in case / in the event that</h1>
<p>Generally used.</p>
<h1>倘 Tǎng - if / supposing / in case</h1>
<p>Almost only used in literature works.</p>
<h1>倘若 Tǎngruò - provided that / supposing that / if</h1>
<p>Mostly used in love letters or lyrics.</p>
<p>假若 Jiǎruò - if / supposing / in case</p>
<h1>Seldom used. A bit like <code>假如</code></h1>
<p>假使 Jiǎshǐ - if / in case / suppose / given ...</p>
<h1>Seldom used.</h1>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-22T15:31:27.033Z
2014-04-22T15:31:27.033Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
AGamePlayer
<p>They are pretty much interchangeable, 如果,假如,假使,要是 are more common used ones, as a native speaker, I rarely hear 倘, only saw it in literature books.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-22T06:43:23.183Z
2014-04-22T06:43:23.183Z
ChineseHulu.com
<p>As a follow up to <a href="https://chinese.stackexchange.com/q/6603/3124">"What is the difference between 假如 and 例如?"</a> I've become unclear on the use of the if statement in Chinese.</p>

<p>For the most part I would use 如果 as an if statement when ever it's required but I have now stumbled across a few:</p>

<pre><code>假如 Jiǎrú - if 
要是 Yàoshi - if
若是 Ruòshì - if
如果 Rúguǒ - if / in case / in the event that
倘 Tǎng - if / supposing / in case
倘若 Tǎngruò - provided that / supposing that / if
假若 Jiǎruò - if / supposing / in case
假使 Jiǎshǐ - if / in case / suppose / given ...
</code></pre>

<p>Translations from <a href="http://www.mdbg.net/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">MDBG</a></p>

<p>All these translate into "if" so how are they used differently or are they interchangeable?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-22T12:48:08.267Z
要是 is also useful, some of the others are more formal.
neubau
<word-choice>
Which "if" is appropriate for what situations
# Which "if" is appropriate for what situations

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-04-22)

As a follow up to ["What is the difference between 假如 and 例如?"](https://chinese.stackexchange.com/q/6603/3124) I've become unclear on the use of the if statement in Chinese.

For the most part I would use 如果 as an if statement when ever it's required but I have now stumbled across a few:

```
假如 Jiǎrú - if 
要是 Yàoshi - if
若是 Ruòshì - if
如果 Rúguǒ - if / in case / in the event that
倘 Tǎng - if / supposing / in case
倘若 Tǎngruò - provided that / supposing that / if
假若 Jiǎruò - if / supposing / in case
假使 Jiǎshǐ - if / in case / suppose / given ...

```

Translations from [MDBG](http://www.mdbg.net/)

All these translate into "if" so how are they used differently or are they interchangeable?

**Tags:** word-choice

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: 要是 is also useful, some of the others are more formal.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-04-22. Score: 3

# 假如 Jiǎrú - if

Generally used. In most case, it's for something that wouldn't happen.

# 要是 Yàoshi - if

Mostly used in `最近雾霾这么厉害，要是我离开北京就好了` - `It'd be great if I had left Beijing! The air pollution is so heavy here.`

# 若是 Ruòshì - if

Literally used, similar to `要是`

# 如果 Rúguǒ - if / in case / in the event that

Generally used.

# 倘 Tǎng - if / supposing / in case

Almost only used in literature works.

# 倘若 Tǎngruò - provided that / supposing that / if

Mostly used in love letters or lyrics.

假若 Jiǎruò - if / supposing / in case

# Seldom used. A bit like `假如`

假使 Jiǎshǐ - if / in case / suppose / given ...

# Seldom used.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2014-04-22. Score: 1

They are pretty much interchangeable, 如果,假如,假使,要是 are more common used ones, as a native speaker, I rarely hear 倘, only saw it in literature books.


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