若

rě, ruò

右 + 艹

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

ruò (particle) if; as if; like; similar to

ruò (verb) to be like; to seem

Etymology

Pictograph of a kneeling person smoothing out their unkempt hair with their hands. Based on the original meaning "conform, obey". The 口 (mouth) component was added later when the character became more abstract.

About

The character 若 now combines 艹 (grass) at the top with 右 below, but its earliest form was a pictograph of a kneeling person smoothing unkempt hair with both hands, originally meaning "conform, obey". As the idea became more abstract, a 口 (mouth) component was added. Over centuries, this depiction gradually simplified into today's structure, and the character was borrowed for its sound to fill grammatical roles. In modern Chinese it functions mainly as a conjunction ("if", "supposing") and as a comparative word meaning "to seem", "like", or "as if".

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

你若努力，就会成功。

Nǐ ruò nǔlì, jiù huì chénggōng.

If you work hard, you will succeed.

他看起来若无其事。

Tā kàn qǐlái ruòwúqíshì.

He looks as if nothing happened.

我若不告诉你，你会生气吗？

Wǒ ruò bù gàosù nǐ, nǐ huì shēngqì ma?

Will you be angry if I don't tell you?

前方若有困难，我们共同面对。

Qiánfāng ruò yǒu kùnnán, wǒmen gòngtóng miànduì.

If there are difficulties ahead, we will face them together.

他若能坚持，必能实现目标。

Tā ruò néng jiānchí, bì néng shíxiàn mùbiāo.

If he can persevere, he will surely achieve his goal.

这景色美若仙境，令人陶醉。

Zhè jǐngsè měi ruò xiānjìng, lìng rén táozuì.

This scenery is as beautiful as a fairyland, which is intoxicating.

我们若能提前规划，便可避免麻烦。

Wǒmen ruò néng tíqián guīhuà, biàn kě bìmiǎn máfan.

If we can plan ahead, we can avoid trouble.

若论个人才华，他无疑是团队中最出色的。

Ruò lùn gèrén cáihuá, tā wúyí shì tuánduì zhōng zuì chūsè de.

When it comes to personal talent, he is undoubtedly the most outstanding in the team.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 右

Component: 艹

Example Words