HSK 5 grammar · new HSK syllabus
万一 and 假如: in case, if
万一 = in case (something bad happens); 假如 = if, supposing (formal).
Structure
- 万一 + unlikely bad event，(就) + …
- 假如 + condition，(就) + …
How it works
万一 introduces an unlikely but possible problem: 带上伞吧，万一下雨呢 = take an umbrella in case it rains.
假如 is a formal “if”, like 如果: 假如我是你，我会接受这份工作.
Examples
-
多带点儿钱吧，万一不够呢。
Take some extra money, in case it isn’t enough.
-
万一他不来，我们怎么办？
What do we do if he doesn’t come?
-
假如我是你，我就不会放弃。
If I were you, I wouldn’t give up.
-
假如明天天气好，我们去爬山吧。
If the weather’s good tomorrow, let’s go hiking.
-
你记一下我的电话，万一有事可以联系我。
Take my number in case anything comes up.
Words in these examples (35)
| 多 | duō | many; much; (in questions) how | HSK 1 |
| 带 | dài | to bring; to take along | HSK 3 |
| 点 | diǎn | o'clock; (measure word) a little | HSK 1 |
| 钱 | qián | money | HSK 1 |
| 吧 | ba | (particle for suggestions: "let's…", "…, OK?") | HSK 1 |
| 万 | wàn | ten thousand | HSK 2 |
| 一 | yī | one | HSK 1 |
| 不够 | búgòu | not enough | HSK 4 |
| 呢 | ne | (particle: "what about…?"; also marks an ongoing state) | HSK 1 |
| 他 | tā | he; him | HSK 1 |
| 不 | bù | not; no | HSK 1 |
| 来 | lái | to come | HSK 1 |
| 我们 | wǒmen | we; us | HSK 1 |
| 怎么办 | zěnmebàn | what to do | HSK 3 |
| 假如 | jiǎrú | if | HSK 5 |
| 我 | wǒ | I; me | HSK 1 |
| 是 | shì | to be (am, is, are); yes | HSK 1 |
| 你 | nǐ | you | HSK 1 |
| 就 | jiù | then; just; right away; only | HSK 2 |
| 会 | huì | can; to know how to | HSK 1 |
| 放弃 | fàngqì | to give up | HSK 4 |
| 明天 | míngtiān | tomorrow | HSK 1 |
| 天气 | tiānqì | weather | HSK 1 |
| 好 | hǎo | good; well | HSK 1 |
| 去 | qù | to go | HSK 1 |
| 爬 | pá | to climb; to crawl | HSK 3 |
| 山 | shān | mountain; hill | HSK 3 |
| 记 | jì | to remember; to write down | HSK 3 |
| 一下 | yíxià | (after a verb) a bit; one time | HSK 1 |
| 的 | de | (particle linking a describer to a noun, like "'s") | HSK 1 |
| 电话 | diànhuà | telephone; phone call | HSK 1 |
| 有 | yǒu | to have; there is | HSK 1 |
| 事 | shì | matter; thing (to do) | HSK 1 |
| 可以 | kěyǐ | can; may | HSK 1 |
| 联系 | liánxì | to contact; connection | HSK 4 |
Common mistakes
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✗万一明天天气好，我们去公园。
✓如果明天天气好，我们去公园。
万一 is for unwanted possibilities.
-
✗假如我是你，所以我会去。
✓假如我是你，我就会去。
假如 pairs with 就, not 所以.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 带上手机， 迷路了可以打电话。
2. 你有一百万，你会做什么？
3. 万一他忘了，你 提醒他一下。