<p>Your example doesn't suit the question. The break down of this sentence is  </p>

<p>[这句常挂在嘴边上的 (adjectival phrase)]  modifies the noun [话] </p>

<p>"这句常挂在嘴边上的[<strong>话</strong>]" = "[<strong>the words</strong>] that is spoken often (by people)"</p>

<p>As for the usage of the set phrase [的话], it functions as [if~],  as you described </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>If it is correct, is it acceptable to use 便 in the main clause instead of 就 or 那?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Yes, depend on the context, [如果～的话] can be followed by different conjunctions like 便, 就, 那</p>

<p>A correct example of [～的话]:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>"不想吃[1. <strong>的话</strong>][2. <strong>就</strong>]不要勉強" - "[1. <strong>If</strong>] you don't want to eat, [2. <strong>then</strong>] don't force yourself"</p>
</blockquote>

<p><em>'就' here can be replaced by"便" or "那就"</em></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-06T11:42:51.480Z
2018-06-06T11:42:51.480Z
Tang Ho
<p>No, it's not a <em>if...then...</em> structure here. </p>

<p>话 here is used as its literal meaning， <em>words</em> or <em>sentence</em>.</p>

<p>The main clause is actually 他想起了话. And the 话 he recalled was “在社会上混，什么都得尝试尝试”, which always hangs  on his mouth(implying he often says that sentence.)</p>

<blockquote>
  <p><strong>他想起了</strong>，&lt;“在社会上混，什么都得尝试尝试”> {这句常挂在嘴边上的}<strong>话</strong></p>
</blockquote>

<p>So when that sentence came into his mind, 便点点头答应了 he nodded and agree to do it.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-06T11:42:40.307Z
2018-06-06T11:42:40.307Z
dan
<p>In the following sentence:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>小姐见他有点儿犹豫，便有声有色地向他介绍吸粉的妙处。这时，他想起了，“在社会上混，什么都得尝试尝试” 这句常挂在嘴边上<strong>的话</strong>，<strong>便</strong>点点头答应了。</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Regarding this usage of 的话, the first I came up with is the use of <em>"If ~, then ..."</em> structure. But this lacks the two fundamental points:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>It lacks 如果. But I know it has no problem grammatically, and the omission of 如果 is common.</p></li>
<li><p>It lacks 就 in the main clause. If subclause is 如果～的话, then the main clause needs 就, 那, or 那么.</p></li>
</ul>

<p>So my questions are:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Is my understanding that the usage of 的话 here is "If ~"?</p></li>
<li><p>If it is correct, is it acceptable to use <strong>便</strong> in the main clause instead of 就 or 那?</p></li>
</ul>

<p>The sentence also sounds a bit awkward, meaning:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>If this sentence always hangs on the mouse, (he) nodded the head.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Which sounds a bit awkward. "As long/far as" or just use "so" sound more natural for me, like:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>This sentence always hangs on the mouse, so he nodded the head.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>So how does 的话 work here and what is the correct meaning of the sentence?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-06T11:37:04.960Z
Try 这时，他想起了这句话，便答应了。
WDC
<grammar><meaning-in-context>
Does 的话 in 这句常挂在嘴边上的话，便点点头答应了 create "If~" subclause?
# Does 的话 in 这句常挂在嘴边上的话，便点点头答应了 create "If~" subclause?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-06-06)

In the following sentence:

> 小姐见他有点儿犹豫，便有声有色地向他介绍吸粉的妙处。这时，他想起了，“在社会上混，什么都得尝试尝试” 这句常挂在嘴边上**的话**，**便**点点头答应了。

Regarding this usage of 的话, the first I came up with is the use of *"If ~, then ..."* structure. But this lacks the two fundamental points:

* It lacks 如果. But I know it has no problem grammatically, and the omission of 如果 is common.
* It lacks 就 in the main clause. If subclause is 如果～的话, then the main clause needs 就, 那, or 那么.

So my questions are:

* Is my understanding that the usage of 的话 here is "If ~"?
* If it is correct, is it acceptable to use **便** in the main clause instead of 就 or 那?

The sentence also sounds a bit awkward, meaning:

> If this sentence always hangs on the mouse, (he) nodded the head.

Which sounds a bit awkward. "As long/far as" or just use "so" sound more natural for me, like:

> This sentence always hangs on the mouse, so he nodded the head.

So how does 的话 work here and what is the correct meaning of the sentence?

**Tags:** grammar, meaning-in-context

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Try 这时，他想起了这句话，便答应了。  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-06-06. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

Your example doesn't suit the question. The break down of this sentence is

[这句常挂在嘴边上的 (adjectival phrase)] modifies the noun [话]

"这句常挂在嘴边上的[**话**]" = "[**the words**] that is spoken often (by people)"

As for the usage of the set phrase [的话], it functions as [if~], as you described

> If it is correct, is it acceptable to use 便 in the main clause instead of 就 or 那?

Yes, depend on the context, [如果～的话] can be followed by different conjunctions like 便, 就, 那

A correct example of [～的话]:

> "不想吃[1. **的话**][2. **就**]不要勉強" - "[1. **If**] you don't want to eat, [2. **then**] don't force yourself"

*'就' here can be replaced by"便" or "那就"*


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### Answer by username_3 on 2018-06-06. Score: 3

No, it's not a *if...then...* structure here.

话 here is used as its literal meaning， *words* or *sentence*.

The main clause is actually 他想起了话. And the 话 he recalled was “在社会上混，什么都得尝试尝试”, which always hangs on his mouth(implying he often says that sentence.)

> **他想起了**，<“在社会上混，什么都得尝试尝试”> {这句常挂在嘴边上的}**话**

So when that sentence came into his mind, 便点点头答应了 he nodded and agree to do it.


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