Lessons 1, 5, 7: Hypothesis and condition: 如果, 既然, 不管

Three conjunctions: stating a hypothesis, citing an existing fact to draw a conclusion, and conditions that do not change the result.

Hanyu textbook · Hanyu 5 · Lesson 1 · Hanyu 5 · Lesson 5 · Hanyu 5 · Lesson 7

既然病了，就回宿舍休息吧。

Jìrán bìng le, jiù huí sùshè xiūxi ba.

Since you're sick, go back to the dorm and rest.

Explanation

如果 expresses a hypothesis; 的话 can be added after the 如果 clause.

既然 is often used together with 就、也、还. Placed in the first clause of a complex sentence, it presents a situation that has already become real; the second clause draws a conclusion based on it.

不管 is used together with 都 or 也 and shows that under any condition the result or conclusion does not change. Note: after 不管 there is usually an indefinite interrogative pronoun, or coordinated elements in a choice relationship (好不好, A 还是 B, 回来不回来). You cannot say: *不管下大雨我们也去.

Structure

1
如果giả thiết，(就)kết quả / 如果……的话
States a hypothesis; 的话 can be added at the end of the hypothetical clause.
- 这台电脑我已经用不着了，如果你用得着的话就送给你吧。
  Zhè tái diànnǎo wǒ yǐjīng yòng bu zháo le, rúguǒ nǐ yòng de zháo de huà jiù sòng gěi nǐ ba.
  I no longer need this computer; if you need it, I'll give it to you.
- 如果没有实实在在的本领，你就很难在比赛中取胜。
  Rúguǒ méiyǒu shíshízàizài de běnlǐng, nǐ jiù hěn nán zài bǐsài zhōng qǔshèng.
  If you don't have real skill, it will be hard to win the competition.
- 我知道，如果把这件事告诉父母的话，他们多半不会同意。
  Wǒ zhīdào, rúguǒ bǎ zhè jiàn shì gàosu fùmǔ de huà, tāmen duōbàn bú huì tóngyì.
  I know that if I tell my parents about this, they will most likely not agree.
2
既然sự thực đã có，就 / 也 / 还kết luận
The second clause draws a conclusion from the fact stated in the first.
- 既然病了，就回宿舍休息吧。
  Jìrán bìng le, jiù huí sùshè xiūxi ba.
  Since you're sick, go back to the dorm and rest.
- 我既然要学汉语，就一定坚持学下去。
  Wǒ jìrán yào xué Hànyǔ, jiù yídìng jiānchí xué xiàqù.
  Since I want to learn Chinese, I will definitely keep at it.
- 东西既然丢了，着急也没用，以后小心点儿就是了。
  Dōngxi jìrán diū le, zháojí yě méi yòng, yǐhòu xiǎoxīn diǎnr jiù shì le.
  Since the thing is already lost, worrying is useless; just be more careful in the future.
3
不管đại từ nghi vấn / A 不 A / A 还是 B，都 / 也…
Whatever the condition, the result doesn't change.
- 我的盾特别坚固，不管用什么锋利的矛去刺，都刺不透。
  Wǒ de dùn tèbié jiāngù, bùguǎn yòng shénme fēnglì de máo qù cì, dōu cì bu tòu.
  My shield is especially sturdy; no matter what sharp spear you use to stab it, it can't be pierced.
- 不管遇到什么情况，她都能坚持上课。
  Bùguǎn yùdào shénme qíngkuàng, tā dōu néng jiānchí shàngkè.
  No matter what the situation, she insists on going to class.
- 不管做什么事，她都非常认真。
  Bùguǎn zuò shénme shì, tā dōu fēicháng rènzhēn.
  No matter what she does, she is very serious about it.
- 不管你回来不回来，都给我来个电话。
  Bùguǎn nǐ huílái bu huílái, dōu gěi wǒ lái ge diànhuà.
  Whether you come back or not, give me a call.
- 不管刮风还是下雨，她从来没有迟到过。
  Bùguǎn guāfēng háishi xiàyǔ, tā cónglái méiyǒu chídào guo.
  Whether windy or rainy, she has never been late.

Usage notes

不管 + elements in a choice or an interrogative pronoun; you can use 多 + Adj to mean "to whatever degree": 不管下多大雨。

Common mistakes

~~不管天气不好，我们也得去上课。~~
不管天气好不好，我们都得去上课。
不管 needs a choice element (好不好) or an interrogative pronoun.
~~不管下大雨，我们也不怕。~~
不管下多大雨，我们也不怕。
Use 多 + Adj to give the meaning "to whatever degree".
~~既然你病了，就不想去上课。~~
既然病了，就不要去上课了。
既然 + fact; the second clause is a conclusion/advice that goes with 就.
~~既然这些是我学过的生词，所以我记住了。~~
这些都是我学过的生词，所以我记住了。
既然 does not go with 所以.

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