<p>The difference is quite slight. The word '要是' is, typically, an oral expression of 'if', it's fine to use it in usual talk, but might be improper to use it in any formal text.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-07T19:42:10.417Z
Does `如果` sounds more formal when speaking?
Cocowalla
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-07T20:19:24.933Z
Sol Wood, do you mind adding examples so I can see how they work in actual sentences?
Alenanno
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-08T02:49:59.597Z
Wrong, many modern literature/poem use 要是 in them. It might add some casual style but it is okay to use it in formal text.
lamwaiman1988
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-08T07:49:01.083Z
“如果” is fine to be used anywhere, but "要是"，like I said, is more casual in tone, it's ok to use it in lyrics, speeches, or scenario, but you will never see that in a declaration, contract or treaty,etc.
Sol
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-07T17:51:53.917Z
2012-02-07T18:28:09.833Z
2012-02-07T18:28:09.833Z
Sol
<p>The following graphics show some differences in usage of 如果 and 要是:
<img src="https://i.sstatic.net/bkffG.png" alt="ru-guo"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/pmQeo.png" alt="yao-shi"></p>

<p>Sources (with Sample Sentences):
<a href="http://jukuu.com/search.php?q=%E5%A6%82%E6%9E%9C" rel="nofollow noreferrer">1</a>, <a href="http://jukuu.com/search.php?q=%E8%A6%81%E6%98%AF" rel="nofollow noreferrer">2</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-12T14:44:27.343Z
2014-08-12T14:44:27.343Z
Tommie C.
<p>To me the biggest difference is "flavor". Sometimes I like the way one sounds, sometimes I like the way the other sounds. For example, I think if I were giving someone an ultimatum, I might use 如果 because to me in that situation it sounds stronger and more consequential, whereas 要是 might feel weaker or more matter-of-fact (if you do this, such-and-such will happen). This might just be my own personal preference - I'm not sure if other people feel the same way or not.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-10T09:44:09.587Z
2012-02-10T09:44:09.587Z
Dan
<p>There is <a href="http://www.google.com.hk/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=%E5%A6%82%E6%9E%9C%20%E8%A6%81%E6%98%AF%20%E5%B7%AE%E5%88%A5&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;ved=0CCUQFjAA&amp;url=http://zephyr.nsysu.edu.tw/NCL2011/%25E5%258F%25A3%25E9%25A0%25AD/%25E6%259D%258E%25E4%25BD%25B3%25E9%2599%25B5/%28%25E5%2585%25A8%25E6%2596%2587%29%25E6%259D%258E%25E4%25BD%25B3%25E9%2599%25B5-%25E5%2581%2587%25E8%25A8%25AD%25E9%2580%25A3%25E6%258E%25A5%25E8%25A9%259E%25E3%2580%258C%25E5%25A6%2582%25E6%259E%259C%25E3%2580%258D%25E8%2588%2587%25E3%2580%258C%25E8%25A6%2581%25E6%2598%25AF%25E3%2580%258D%25E7%259A%2584%25E8%25AA%259E%25E7%25BE%25A9%25E5%258F%258A%25E8%25AA%259E%25E7%2594%25A8%25E5%2588%2586%25E6%259E%2590.pdf&amp;ei=D94xT6zoH8-viQfQ6Z3sBA&amp;usg=AFQjCNEX68v-ayFD6q4eOnPlPo2M4zJQSA" rel="nofollow">paper</a> with 20 pages which described the difference between 如果 and 要是, but it is in Chinese. I don't have the time to translate it now. Must edit later.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-08T08:58:07.400Z
Yikes, 20 pages! A synopsis would be great when you get a chance :)
Cocowalla
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-08T02:50:34.713Z
2014-07-16T11:51:28.803Z
2014-07-16T11:51:28.803Z
lamwaiman1988
<p>要是 might be translated, if, supposing. There is a "wish" element to this construction. </p>

<p>如果 also means, "if" (in case) as the OP postulated, in a strictly factual sense.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-07T20:19:43.640Z
Do you mind adding examples so I can see how they work in actual sentences?
Alenanno
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-07T16:22:49.937Z
2012-02-07T16:22:49.937Z
Tom Au
<blockquote>
<p>我要是知道，我早知道你了。 If I knew, I would have told you.</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>我如果知道，我会告诉你。If I know (in the future), I will tell you.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-03-18T02:56:05.113Z
2021-03-18T02:56:05.113Z
Zhang
<p>Why do you make the problem so complex?
if you just learn Chinese to Communicate in life,you need not differentiate them completely.They almost have the same meaning in spoken language,you can use both of them in spoken language.
Certainly,“如果” is more official than &quot;要是&quot;.If you write an article or report,you should use &quot;如果&quot;.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-03-18T09:36:25.640Z
2021-03-18T09:36:25.640Z
Jinxiu Liao
<p>In my opinion, they mean the same:&quot;if&quot;. &quot;要是&quot; is a little informal and more common in oral speaking, while &quot;如果&quot; is formal, I think, but you will see both of them in books.</p>
<p>I could only catch up with one differences in use between them. For &quot;要是“, because there is a &quot;是&quot; inside, when the verb in the &quot;if-clause&quot; is &quot;是(to be)&quot;, &quot;是&quot; can be ommitted, however, &quot;是&quot; can't be ommitted when using &quot;如果”.</p>
<p>Some examples:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>要是我，[我]就不会那么做。 <em>If [it were] me, [I] won't do that way.</em></p>
<p>如果是我，[我]就不会那么做。<em>If [it were] me, [I] won't do that way.</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Also, I don't agree with Tom Au that only &quot;要是&quot; has a &quot;wish&quot; mood. I think &quot;如果&quot; can be used in this case too.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>要是我有100万就好了。 <em>It's good if I have 1 million</em>,really means <em>I wish I could have 1 million</em></p>
<p>如果我有100万就好了。 <em>It's good if I have 1 million</em>,really means <em>I wish I could have 1 million</em></p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-08T02:12:16.570Z
2012-02-08T02:12:16.570Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
Huang
<p>In the Pimsleur Mandarin course it uses <code>如果</code> (rúguǒ) to mean 'if', but the dictionary shows <code>要是</code> (yàoshì) to have a similar meaning:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>如果: if; in case; in the event that<br>
  要是: if</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Are there any differences between the meanings of the two, and how should I choose which to use?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-07T20:18:56.277Z
+1 Good question :)
Alenanno
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-10T12:59:19.420Z
Wow Chinese etymology (or how words are composed) is wonderful. 要是 -> *want to be* -> *if*
Petruza
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-03-18T04:20:37.400Z
On a personal level, this is how I would use the two terms. (1) I'll use 如果 for an event which has not happened, but has the possibility of happening. (2) And 要是 for the probable "re-happening" of a past event. E.g. 如果你不听我的劝告,我就不理你了；要是你再次不听我的劝告,我就不理你了  I just feel that 要是 seems to carry a more sombre / sterner / accusative tone, and more suggestive of the above connotation.
Wayne Cheah
<word-choice><usage><grammar><synonyms>
Difference between 如果 and 要是?
# Difference between 如果 and 要是?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-02-07)

In the Pimsleur Mandarin course it uses `如果` (rúguǒ) to mean 'if', but the dictionary shows `要是` (yàoshì) to have a similar meaning:

> 如果: if; in case; in the event that  
> 要是: if

Are there any differences between the meanings of the two, and how should I choose which to use?

**Tags:** word-choice, usage, grammar, synonyms

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: +1 Good question :)  
> **username_2**: Wow Chinese etymology (or how words are composed) is wonderful. 要是 -> *want to be* -> *if*  
> **username_3**: On a personal level, this is how I would use the two terms. (1) I'll use 如果 for an event which has not happened, but has the possibility of happening. (2) And 要是 for the probable "re-happening" of a past event. E.g. 如果你不听我的劝告,我就不理你了；要是你再次不听我的劝告,我就不理你了  I just feel that 要是 seems to carry a more sombre / sterner / accusative tone, and more suggestive of the above connotation.  

---

## 8 answers

### Answer by username_11 on 2012-02-08. Score: 18 | Accepted answer

In my opinion, they mean the same:"if". "要是" is a little informal and more common in oral speaking, while "如果" is formal, I think, but you will see both of them in books.

I could only catch up with one differences in use between them. For "要是“, because there is a "是" inside, when the verb in the "if-clause" is "是(to be)", "是" can be ommitted, however, "是" can't be ommitted when using "如果”.

Some examples:

> 要是我，[我]就不会那么做。 *If [it were] me, [I] won't do that way.*
>
> 如果是我，[我]就不会那么做。*If [it were] me, [I] won't do that way.*

Also, I don't agree with username_8 that only "要是" has a "wish" mood. I think "如果" can be used in this case too.

> 要是我有100万就好了。 *It's good if I have 1 million*,really means *I wish I could have 1 million*
>
> 如果我有100万就好了。 *It's good if I have 1 million*,really means *I wish I could have 1 million*


---

### Answer by username_4 on 2012-02-07. Score: 7

The difference is quite slight. The word '要是' is, typically, an oral expression of 'if', it's fine to use it in usual talk, but might be improper to use it in any formal text.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Does `如果` sounds more formal when speaking?  
> **username_1**: Sol Wood, do you mind adding examples so I can see how they work in actual sentences?  
> **username_5**: Wrong, many modern literature/poem use 要是 in them. It might add some casual style but it is okay to use it in formal text.  
> **username_4**: “如果” is fine to be used anywhere, but "要是"，like I said, is more casual in tone, it's ok to use it in lyrics, speeches, or scenario, but you will never see that in a declaration, contract or treaty,etc.  

---

### Answer by username_6 on 2014-08-12. Score: 4

The following graphics show some differences in usage of 如果 and 要是:
![ru-guo](https://i.sstatic.net/bkffG.png)![yao-shi](https://i.sstatic.net/pmQeo.png)

Sources (with Sample Sentences):
[1](http://jukuu.com/search.php?q=%E5%A6%82%E6%9E%9C), [2](http://jukuu.com/search.php?q=%E8%A6%81%E6%98%AF)


---

### Answer by username_7 on 2012-02-10. Score: 4

To me the biggest difference is "flavor". Sometimes I like the way one sounds, sometimes I like the way the other sounds. For example, I think if I were giving someone an ultimatum, I might use 如果 because to me in that situation it sounds stronger and more consequential, whereas 要是 might feel weaker or more matter-of-fact (if you do this, such-and-such will happen). This might just be my own personal preference - I'm not sure if other people feel the same way or not.


---

### Answer by username_5 on 2012-02-08. Score: 2

There is [paper](http://www.google.com.hk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=%E5%A6%82%E6%9E%9C%20%E8%A6%81%E6%98%AF%20%E5%B7%AE%E5%88%A5&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCUQFjAA&url=http://zephyr.nsysu.edu.tw/NCL2011/%25E5%258F%25A3%25E9%25A0%25AD/%25E6%259D%258E%25E4%25BD%25B3%25E9%2599%25B5/%28%25E5%2585%25A8%25E6%2596%2587%29%25E6%259D%258E%25E4%25BD%25B3%25E9%2599%25B5-%25E5%2581%2587%25E8%25A8%25AD%25E9%2580%25A3%25E6%258E%25A5%25E8%25A9%259E%25E3%2580%258C%25E5%25A6%2582%25E6%259E%259C%25E3%2580%258D%25E8%2588%2587%25E3%2580%258C%25E8%25A6%2581%25E6%2598%25AF%25E3%2580%258D%25E7%259A%2584%25E8%25AA%259E%25E7%25BE%25A9%25E5%258F%258A%25E8%25AA%259E%25E7%2594%25A8%25E5%2588%2586%25E6%259E%2590.pdf&ei=D94xT6zoH8-viQfQ6Z3sBA&usg=AFQjCNEX68v-ayFD6q4eOnPlPo2M4zJQSA) with 20 pages which described the difference between 如果 and 要是, but it is in Chinese. I don't have the time to translate it now. Must edit later.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Yikes, 20 pages! A synopsis would be great when you get a chance :)  

---

### Answer by username_8 on 2012-02-07. Score: 0

要是 might be translated, if, supposing. There is a "wish" element to this construction.

如果 also means, "if" (in case) as the OP postulated, in a strictly factual sense.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Do you mind adding examples so I can see how they work in actual sentences?  

---

### Answer by username_9 on 2021-03-18. Score: 0

> 我要是知道，我早知道你了。 If I knew, I would have told you.

> 我如果知道，我会告诉你。If I know (in the future), I will tell you.


---

### Answer by username_10 on 2021-03-18. Score: -1

Why do you make the problem so complex?
if you just learn Chinese to Communicate in life,you need not differentiate them completely.They almost have the same meaning in spoken language,you can use both of them in spoken language.
Certainly,“如果” is more official than "要是".If you write an article or report,you should use "如果".


---

