What 要是 means
- If
These meanings come from the same dictionary that powers the Chinese to Pinyin translator and the Chinese to English translator, so a whole sentence containing 要是 will read it the same way this page does.
Character by character
How to write 要是
Stroke order is not decoration — it is what makes handwriting legible and what dictionary lookup by stroke count depends on.
Practise 要是 on printable 田字格 sheets, trace it in the writing practice tool, or watch any other character in the Stroke Order Animator.
Sounds the same as 要是
These are also written yaoshi without tone marks. Tones and context are what keep them apart — which is why the tone is part of the word, not an accent on it.
Train the difference in the Tone Trainer or the Similar Sounds Quiz.
Questions about 要是
What does 要是 mean in English?
要是 is pronounced yàoshi and means If.
How do you pronounce 要是?
要是 is yàoshi in pinyin — written yaoshi without tone marks. Press the audio button on this page to hear it spoken by a native voice.
What are the characters in 要是?
要是 is written with 2 characters: 要 (yāo) Want (need - request - must - demand), 是 (shì) To be (is - are - am - yes). Knowing the parts is usually how the whole word becomes memorable.
Is 要是 an HSK word?
Yes — 要是 is on the official HSK 4 vocabulary list. You can study it with the rest of that list on the HSK 4 page.
Studied around the same time
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Translate a whole sentence containing 要是 with the Chinese to Pinyin translator, study it alongside the rest of HSK 4, drill it with HSK flashcards, or save it above and review it on your review deck.
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