要是 vs 如果 what's the difference?
要不是你告诉我，我根本想象不到=If you hadn't told me, I couldn't have imagined at all.
I've stumbled upon this sentence while I was watching "happy chinese" programme on cctv4. My first question is, what is the difference between ruguo and yaoshi. And the second question is, what would be the difference if I wrote above sentence like that:
要是你没告诉我，我根本想象不到
Search from various English teachers...
Answers · 9
0
几乎是一样的
我觉得没什么差别
0
(1)Generally,如果is more formal；要是is more casual.
While both of them can be used in oral Chinese. In that case, the subjunctive mood of 要是 is stronger than that of 如果,especially in a negative tone.
For example, 要是你早点告诉我，我就不会死了！"(the ghost is nearly complaining )
“如果你早点告诉我，也许我就不会死了”（much softer）
(2)The two sentences have the same meaning and they are equally authentic.
0
NO difference
要不是 = 如果不是
要是 = 如果
0
要是你没告诉我，我根本想象不到
要不是你告诉我，我根本想象不到
They have the same meaning.
要不是 means "if you did not ". here 要=if
【要（if）不是（not）你（you）告诉（told）我（mi）】
0
Generally, both of them are used for the hypothesis. 如果 is un pure supposition and usually used in writing. While 要是 is similar to the subjunctive mood in English. It refers to a supposition with a strong wish. And it is more oral. Hope you understand it :)
Still haven’t found your answers?
Write down your questions and let the native speakers help you!
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn a language from the comfort of your own home. Browse our selection of experienced language tutors and enroll in your first lesson now!
Start Learning Today
