How to Say "If" in Cantonese - How To Say Guide

如果

jyu⁴ guo²

The English word "if" is translated into Cantonese as 如果 (jyu⁴ guo²). Wiktionary also lists 要是 (jiu³ si⁶).

Meaning: supposing that (conj)

Ways to say it

“if” in Cantonese
Cantonese	Romanization (Wiktionary)
如果	jyu⁴ guo²
要是	jiu³ si⁶

如果 is a conjunction used to express both real possibilities and hypothetical or counterfactual situations.

The word 如果 is composed of 如, meaning "as" or "like" and 果, meaning "fruit" or "result". Literally, it means "as the result".

In Guangzhou, the phrase 如果嘅話 is used.

In a conditional sentence, 如果 is frequently paired with 就 (then) in the second clause to complete the "if… then…" structure.

jyu⁴ guo²

In spoken Cantonese, the conditional 'if' is frequently signaled not by a word at the start, but by adding 嘅話 (ge³ waa²), meaning 'the case of', to the end of the first clause.
The phrase 如果 is a 'loan' from Literary Chinese, meaning that while people speak Cantonese, they use a grammar structure rooted in an ancient written language.
In highly casual Cantonese, you can often omit 'if' entirely by simply using a particle like 喇 or 就 to imply a conditional relationship based on the context of the sentence.

如果我識飛就好喇！
If only I could fly!
Tatoeba #1385489 by nickyeow, translation #1387025 by carlosalberto
如果你嚟到就好喇。
It would be nice if you could come.
Tatoeba #5797622 by nickyeow, translation #5266037 by Cithara
如果再係咁就打俾我啦。
If that happens again, call me.
Tatoeba #5734143 by nickyeow, translation #5695964 by shea
若果你願意的話，我們可以商量一下。
If you're willing, we can discuss it.
如果嘅話，我就考慮一下。
If that's the case, I will consider it.
想像返如果你有一百萬，你會點做？
Suppose you have one million dollars, what would you do?
如果嘅話，我就陪你一齊去。
If that's the case, I will go with you.
若果係真嘅，我會好高興。
If that's true, I will be very happy.
如果我贏咗彩票，我會去旅行。
If I win the lottery, I will travel.
141 more sentences on Tatoeba

At a cafe, discussing the weather.

雅婷 Nga Ting

如果聽日落雨，我哋唔好出去啦。
jyu4 gwo2 ting1 jat6 lok6 jyu5, ngo5 dei6 m4 hou2 ceot1 lai1 laa1.
If it rains tomorrow, let's not go out.
志強 Chi Keung

如果係咁，不如留喺屋企。
jyu4 gwo2 hai6 gam2, bat1 jo4 lau4 hai2 uk1 kei2.
If that's the case, we might as well stay at home.
雅婷 Nga Ting

好呀，志強，你睇下天氣預報。
hou2 aa3, zi3 koeng4, nei5 tai2 haa5 tin1 hei3 jyu6 bou3.
Okay, Chi Keung, check the weather forecast.
志強 Chi Keung

好，我而家就睇。
hou2, ngo5 ji4 gaa1 zau6 tai2.
Okay, I'll check it now.

Sources

⭐Share⭐ to appreciate human effort 🙏