若grammar point · tier 1 · literary conditional 若 (if, should it be that)
ㄖㄨㄛˋ · ruò
Single-character literary 'if': opens a supposed case in terse written register, then states what would follow; needs no 就 pickup.
字源 FORM what the parts do
若 is grass (艸) over a right hand (右), a hand sorting through plants and settling on one stalk. That picking gave the conditional: take this case as the one in hand, then say what comes of it.
故事 STORY a scene to remember it by
A hand reaches into the grass and closes on a single stalk; whatever happens next is built on the one it picked.
字源自撰記憶法
框 · Frame
若 [supposed case]，[（則/也/將）consequence]
觸 · Trigger
You float a supposed case in formal writing and state what follows, wanting one terse character at the clause front rather than a spoken two-syllable opener.
序 · The move
1Open with 若 + the supposed case.Is this entertained, not stated as fact? A case taken as real wants 因為, not 若. Is the register written or formal? In casual speech reach for 要是 or 如果.
2Close the case clause, then state the consequence.Does the second clause follow from the first?
3Leave the consequence to stand on its own, or pick it up with 則 / 也 / 將 where the writing wants it.Did you avoid jamming in a spoken 就? 若 carries the condition without it; 就 reads as a register clash.
Same conditional job. 若 is one literary character for written and formal register; 如果 is the neutral everyday two-character default. 若成本增加 reads as a report; 如果成本增加 reads as plain speech.
Both lean written. 假如 floats a case held provisionally, on loan; 若 is the terser, more clipped literary marker, common in notices, contracts, and formal prose.
若 supposes a case that may or may not hold; 因為 states a cause taken as true. 若下雨 = should it rain (unknown); 因為下雨 = because it rained (fact).
若成本增加，就價格也將提高。 ✗ → 若成本增加，價格也將提高。 ✓ (若 carries the condition; a spoken 就 clashes with its written register)
因為若你來… ✗ → 若你來… ✓ (若 supposes; do not stack it on a stated cause)
成本若增加… as the only marker in casual speech ✗ → 成本要是增加… ✓ (in casual speech reach for 要是/如果; 若 reads stiff)
English 'if' carries no register weight, so learners drop the literary 若 into casual speech where 要是 or 如果 fits, or pair it with a spoken 就 the formal register rejects.