(ruò) - if & supposing

Tone 4

ruò | 8 strokes | radical: 艹

· ruò

if;

supposing;

as if;

like;

seem;

you (archaic);

to choose;

to comply

ifsupposingas if

Usage highlights

ifas ifseeminglyto complycalm and composedunperturbed

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • must; certainly
  • definite; fixed

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • If you have time, please come (若有时间).
  • He seems very happy (他若很开心).
  • As if in a dream (若在梦中).
  • Remain calm and unperturbed (泰然自若).

Collocations

  • if(如果)
  • as if(仿佛若)
  • seemingly(若然)
  • to comply(若从)
  • calm and composed(泰然自若)
  • unperturbed(神色自若)

Idioms

  • Calm and composed(泰然自若)
  • Unperturbed as if nothing happened(神色自若)
  • As if enlightened(恍然若悟)
  • To advance or retreat as circumstances dictate(进退若一)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Used in classical Chinese as a second-person pronoun 'you'.
  • Commonly appears in Buddhist texts meaning 'as if' or 'seemingly'.
  • Associated with philosophical concepts of conditionality and appearance versus reality.

FAQ