Meaning of 若
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to seem
- like
- as
- if
- used in 般若[bo1 re3]
- used in 蘭若|兰若[lan2 re3]
How to use 若
若 (ruò) is a formal, written word for "if", used where speech would use 如果 (rúguǒ). It also means "like" or "as if" in many set phrases and idioms. Example: 若有问题，请联系我。(Ruò yǒu wèntí, qǐng liánxì wǒ.) If there are any problems, please contact me.
若 (ruò) has the grass radical 艹 on top of 右 (yòu, right hand). Picture a hand reaching into the grass, unsure what it will find: "if" there is something there, it only "seems" like it.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 若 (ruò) with 苦 (kǔ, bitter), which also has 艹 on top but 古 underneath instead of 右. Also, do not use 若 in casual speech the way you would use 如果; it sounds bookish in everyday conversation.
若 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
若 ruò · to seem · 8 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 若.
| 倘若 | tǎngruò | if; supposing; in case |
| 若干 | ruògān | a certain number or amount; how many? |
| 受宠若惊 | shòuchǒngruòjīng | overwhelmed by favor from superior (humble expr.) |
| 若无其事 | ruòwúqíshì | (idiom) as if nothing had happened; calm and composed; nonchalant |
| 欣喜若狂 | xīnxǐruòkuáng | to be wild with joy (idiom) |
| 若非 | ruòfēi | were it not for; if not for |
| 如若 | rúruò | if |
Questions about 若
What does 若 mean?
若 (ruò) means "to seem; like" and is used as a conjunction.
How do you write 若?
若 is made of 1 character: 若 (8 strokes). That is 8 strokes in total.
Is 若 an HSK word?
Yes. 若 is on the HSK 6 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
When is 若 pronounced rě instead of ruò?
Only in a few Buddhist loanwords, such as 般若 (bōrě, wisdom) and 兰若 (lánrě, a temple). In all normal uses, including "if" and "like", it is ruò.
What is the difference between 若 and 倘若?
Both mean "if" and both are formal. 倘若 (tǎngruò) is a two-character word that is a bit more emphatic, like "supposing", while 若 alone is shorter and common in written notices and set phrases like 若非 (ruòfēi, if not for).