如果...就...

If...then...

Level 2Sounds Like jyu4 gwo2 . . . zau6 . . .

Use 如果 (jyu4 gwo2) at the start of a condition and 就 (zau6) before the verb in the result clause.

How It Works

The pattern 如果...就... (jyu4 gwo2... zau6...) is the most common way to express conditionals in Cantonese.

1. Structure and Word Order
In Cantonese, the condition is normally stated before the result. Putting the 'if' clause last, as in the English 'I will go if it rains', is much less natural with this pattern.

  • 如果 (jyu4 gwo2) usually starts the first clause, but it can also appear after the subject (e.g., 你如果...).
  • 就 (zau6) is a pre-verbal adverb. It must follow the subject of the second clause and come before the verb.

2. Softening with 嘅話
To make the sentence sound more natural and 'Cantonese,' speakers often add 嘅話 (ge3 waa2) at the end of the first clause. This acts as an additional 'if' marker.

3. Dropping 'If'
In casual speech, the word 如果 is frequently omitted. As long as 就 is present in the second clause, the conditional meaning is usually clear (e.g., 你去，我就去 — 'You go, [then] I go').

4. Formal Variants
While 如果 is neutral, you may hear 假如 (gaa2 jyu4) in formal or hypothetical contexts, or 若果 (joek6 gwo2) in slightly more 'proper' spoken Cantonese.

Examples (4)

  1. 如果聽日落雨，我哋就唔去行山。

    If it rains tomorrow, we won't go hiking.

    Word by Word: If tomorrow fall rain, we then not go walk mountain.

    Note how 就 (zau6) follows the subject 我哋 (ngo5 dei6) and precedes the verb 唔去 (m4 heoi3).

  2. 如果你有時間嘅話，我哋就約埋打波。

    If you have time, we'll arrange a game.

    Word by Word: If you have time [if-marker], we then arrange together play ball.

    Adding 嘅話 (ge3 waa2) at the end of the first clause makes the condition sound more natural in spoken Cantonese.

  3. 你如果唔舒服，就早啲休息啦。

    If you aren't feeling well, then rest early.

    Word by Word: You if not comfortable, then early a-bit rest [particle].

    Here, 如果 (jyu4 gwo2) is placed after the subject 你 (nei5). The subject of the second clause is omitted because it is the same person.

  4. 如果你鍾意，我就買畀你。

    If you like it, I'll buy it for you.

    Word by Word: If you like, I then buy give you.

    A simple conditional linking a preference to an action.

Common Mistakes

  • Placing 就 (zau6) before the subject of the second clause.

    如果落雨，就我哋唔去。
    如果落雨，我哋就唔去。

    In Cantonese, adverbs like 就 (zau6) must come after the subject. Think of it as 'We then not go' rather than 'Then we not go'.

  • Reversing the clause order (putting 'if' second).

    Different Meaning我哋唔去行山如果你有時間。
    如果你有時間，我哋就唔去行山。

    Normally the condition comes first. Putting 如果 at the end works only as an afterthought after a pause, and the sentence is then harder to follow.

  • Putting 就 (zau6) after 唔.

    如果你唔去，我唔就去。
    如果你唔去，我就唔去。

    就 (zau6) comes before the whole verb phrase, including 唔 (m4): 我就唔去, not 我唔就去.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

如果...就...Level 2If...then...

Learn This First

To use the '如果...就...' (if...then...) structure, you need to understand how to link two clauses. The pattern relies on the adverb '就' to mark the consequence, and follows standard Cantonese word order where the condition precedes the result.

Learn Next

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And 2 more in the full list.

Words in This Pattern