<p>Just like @congusbongus said, it's used as an optional part of 如果. In case of 你想看的话, you can consider 的话 is introduced <em>implicitly</em> by 如果. The introducer itself is omitted. Really no magic here.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-21T18:17:18.763Z
My question is not about its usage or meaning, but rather about the origin. I know how to use it and do frequently, with and without `如果`.
musicnothing
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-20T15:15:32.867Z
2014-01-20T15:15:32.867Z
Yaboot
<p>No, it doesn't modify <code>如果</code> or the phrase in between, and there's nothing to do with possessive constructs. I wouldn't even notice it when I speak, but when I think about it, I agree with hrzhu, that it can be loosely translated to <code>is the case</code>, the actual words don't have explicit meaning here.</p>

<p>I think <code>的话</code> provides a short pause, which gives the speaker a chance to actually think about the condition or assumption being said. It sometimes creates a tension, e.g. <code>如果我杀了你的话...</code>, you can pause for many seconds here to frighten someone. Notice that <code>话</code> ends with the [a] vowel, so people tend to lengthen it when they don't know what to say, and need a sec to think, e.g. <code>如果他是GAY的话......他就不会喜欢你</code>.</p>

<p>So the idea is that with <code>的话</code>, the <code>如果</code> clause sounds more natural, because the condition or assumption being said does sometimes need a sec for you to pause and think. Without <code>的话</code>, it sounds quite abrupt, although it does work if you leave it out, in most cases. Personally I call these constructs the lubricant of the language.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-10T17:14:37.347Z
2014-01-11T04:24:13.313Z
2014-01-11T04:24:13.313Z
Aufheben
<p>What is the etymology behind "的话" in the common construct <code>如果...的话</code> or <code>要是...的话</code>?</p>

<p>In addition to wondering about it's meaning, what exactly is the <code>的</code> doing? Is it modifying the <code>如果</code>? Is it modifying the phrase in between? Or is it somehow a possessive construct?</p>

<p>Any light you can shed on the subject would be appreciated.</p>

<p>(Note: I looked over <a href="https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/836/why-does-the-construction-of-%E8%A6%81%E6%98%AF%E2%80%A6%E7%9A%84%E8%AF%9D-mean-if">this question</a> but there is no real answer, accepted or otherwise.)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-09T02:17:06.083Z
The answer by Lars Andren more or less explains what `的话` means in English. "If, say for example, blah blah blah..."
杨以轩
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-09T04:32:36.753Z
I would translate `如果...的话` as `if ... is the case`. I'm not very sure, but I guess in most cases we can leave `的话` out.
hrzhu
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-09T05:06:24.273Z
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E7%9A%84%E8%AF%9D it is an optional particle, and may be used with or without 如果 or 要是.
congusbongus
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-09T18:20:34.900Z
I know the meaning and the usage. I just don't know why that's the meaning and usage. Take this example: `你想看的话...`. It translates to "If you want to watch..." but *literally* is, what, "You-want-to-watch type of words"? My best guess for meaning is "(In regards to) the words/case of you wanting to watch..." Does that sound right?
musicnothing
<grammar><etymology>
Questions on "的话"
# Questions on "的话"

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-01-08)

What is the etymology behind "的话" in the common construct `如果...的话` or `要是...的话`?

In addition to wondering about it's meaning, what exactly is the `的` doing? Is it modifying the `如果`? Is it modifying the phrase in between? Or is it somehow a possessive construct?

Any light you can shed on the subject would be appreciated.

(Note: I looked over [this question](https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/836/why-does-the-construction-of-%E8%A6%81%E6%98%AF%E2%80%A6%E7%9A%84%E8%AF%9D-mean-if) but there is no real answer, accepted or otherwise.)

**Tags:** grammar, etymology

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: The answer by Lars Andren more or less explains what `的话` means in English. "If, say for example, blah blah blah..."  
> **username_2**: I would translate `如果...的话` as `if ... is the case`. I'm not very sure, but I guess in most cases we can leave `的话` out.  
> **username_3**: https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E7%9A%84%E8%AF%9D it is an optional particle, and may be used with or without 如果 or 要是.  
> **username_0**: I know the meaning and the usage. I just don't know why that's the meaning and usage. Take this example: `你想看的话...`. It translates to "If you want to watch..." but *literally* is, what, "You-want-to-watch type of words"? My best guess for meaning is "(In regards to) the words/case of you wanting to watch..." Does that sound right?  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_5 on 2014-01-10. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

No, it doesn't modify `如果` or the phrase in between, and there's nothing to do with possessive constructs. I wouldn't even notice it when I speak, but when I think about it, I agree with username_2, that it can be loosely translated to `is the case`, the actual words don't have explicit meaning here.

I think `的话` provides a short pause, which gives the speaker a chance to actually think about the condition or assumption being said. It sometimes creates a tension, e.g. `如果我杀了你的话...`, you can pause for many seconds here to frighten someone. Notice that `话` ends with the [a] vowel, so people tend to lengthen it when they don't know what to say, and need a sec to think, e.g. `如果他是GAY的话......他就不会喜欢你`.

So the idea is that with `的话`, the `如果` clause sounds more natural, because the condition or assumption being said does sometimes need a sec for you to pause and think. Without `的话`, it sounds quite abrupt, although it does work if you leave it out, in most cases. Personally I call these constructs the lubricant of the language.


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### Answer by username_4 on 2014-01-20. Score: 1

Just like @username_3 said, it's used as an optional part of 如果. In case of 你想看的话, you can consider 的话 is introduced *implicitly* by 如果. The introducer itself is omitted. Really no magic here.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: My question is not about its usage or meaning, but rather about the origin. I know how to use it and do frequently, with and without `如果`.  

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