If… then… (literary 若…则)

Structure 若 + condition，则 + consequence （variant: 若非 + … = were it not for…）

若…则… (ruò… zé…) is the literary conditional: 若 is the formal «if» (written counterpart of 如果, HSK 3) and 则 introduces the consequence («then, in that case»). It appears in formal instructions, regulations, essays and classical-toned prose: 若有疑问，则可咨询 = «should there be questions, one may inquire». The variant 若非… means «were it not for… / if it weren't (that)…», stating a negative counterfactual condition: 若非亲眼所见，实难相信 = «had I not seen it with my own eyes, it would be hard to believe». 则 always keeps the reading zé.

Examples

若ruò有yǒu疑yí问wèn，则zé可kě向xiàng客kè服fú咨zī询xún。
Should there be any questions, one may consult customer service.
若ruò非fēi亲qīn眼yǎn所suǒ见jiàn，实shí难nán相xiāng信xìn。
Were it not for having seen it with my own eyes, it would be hard to believe.
若ruò措cuò施shī得dé当dàng，则zé危wēi机jī可kě化huà解jiě。
If the measures are apt, then the crisis can be defused.
若ruò非fēi众zhòng人rén相xiāng助zhù，此cǐ事shì断duàn难nán成chéng功gōng。
Were it not for everyone's help, this matter could hardly have succeeded.

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