HSK 5
要是⋯⋯，（就）⋯⋯，否则⋯⋯
yào shi ⋯ ⋯ ， （ jiù ） ⋯ ⋯ ， fǒu zé ⋯ ⋯
Conditional structure with '要是...，（就）...，否则...'
Explanation
This is a hypothetical compound sentence (a sentence with two or more clauses joined by a conjunction) using the set '要是⋯⋯，（就）⋯⋯，否则⋯⋯' to state a hypothetical condition and then describe both the consequence when the condition holds and when it does not.
要是 yàoshi + hypothetical condition, (就 jiù) + result, 否则 fǒuzé + situation if the condition does NOT occur. Equivalent to 'If... then..., otherwise...' in Vietnamese.
When you want to lay out a hypothesis and clarify the consequences in both directions, making the argument tight. 要是 has a colloquial nuance (everyday speech), while 否则 (fǒuzé, otherwise) leans slightly more formal.
Vietnamese learners often forget 就 (jiù) in the result clause, or misunderstand 否则 as 'if' — in fact 否则 means 'otherwise (if not as above), then'. After 否则 must come the consequence of the condition not being met, not a repetition of the condition.
Examples
If he doesn't go, then I won't go either, otherwise going alone would be too dangerous for me.
If it rains tomorrow, then we won't go mountain climbing, otherwise we'll catch a cold from the cold.
If you don't bring a bag, then I'll bring one, otherwise there will be nowhere to put the things we buy.
Practice
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Learn “要是⋯⋯，（就）⋯⋯，否则⋯⋯” effectively
The grammar point “要是⋯⋯，（就）⋯⋯，否则⋯⋯” (Conditional structure with '要是...，（就）...，否则...') is one of the key structures at HSK 5. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.
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