tiáojiàn: 条件 - Condition, Requirement, Term

• Keywords: tiáojiàn, 条件, Chinese for condition, Chinese for requirement, terms and conditions in Chinese, prerequisites in Chinese, Chinese grammar if…then, living conditions in Chinese, what does tiaojian mean
• Summary: The Chinese word 条件 (tiáojiàn) is an essential term for learners, meaning “condition,” “requirement,” or “term.” It's incredibly versatile, used to discuss everything from the “terms” of a business contract and the “prerequisites” for a job, to the “conditions” needed for a scientific experiment. In daily life, it's used to talk about living or working conditions and even the personal “requirements” one might have for a partner. Understanding 条件 (tiáojiàn) unlocks the ability to negotiate, set boundaries, and describe the world in a more specific and nuanced way.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): tiáojiàn
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: A requirement, prerequisite, or factor that must be met for something else to happen or exist.
• In a Nutshell: Think of 条件 (tiáojiàn) as the “strings attached” or the necessary ingredients for something. It can be a logical condition (“*If* you do this…”), a contractual term (“on the *condition* that you pay first”), or a physical state (“living *conditions*”). The core idea is that a 条件 (tiáojiàn) is a specific factor that enables, defines, or limits an outcome or situation.

• 条 (tiáo): This character originally depicted a slender branch of a tree. It has evolved to mean a “strip,” “item,” “clause,” or “article.” Think of a list of rules or items in a contract—each one is a 条.
• 件 (jiàn): This character often acts as a measure word for items, documents, or matters, such as a piece of clothing (一件衣服 - yí jiàn yīfu) or an affair (一件事 - yí jiàn shì). It signifies an individual item or case.

When combined, 条件 (tiáojiàn) literally translates to “itemized matters” or “claused items.” This perfectly captures the meaning of a set of specific requirements or stipulations that must be considered or met.

While “condition” or “term” is a universal concept, the use of 条件 (tiáojiàn) in China can sometimes be more personal and flexible than the rigid, legalistic “Terms and Conditions” often seen in the West. For example, in a Western context, discussing the “conditions” for a romantic relationship might sound cold or transactional. In China, however, talking about your 找对象的条件 (zhǎo duìxiàng de tiáojiàn)—the “conditions for finding a partner”—is a very common and practical conversation. These conditions might include things like age, height, profession, or whether they own a home. This isn't necessarily seen as cold, but rather as a pragmatic approach to finding a suitable and stable match, reflecting a cultural emphasis on practicality and family security. Similarly, discussions about improving 生活条件 (shēnghuó tiáojiàn) (living conditions) or 工作条件 (gōngzuò tiáojiàn) (working conditions) are frequent topics of conversation, reflecting the country's rapid development and the collective aspiration for a better material life. It's a key metric for measuring personal and national progress.

条件 is the standard word for “terms” in any negotiation, from a formal business contract to haggling at a market.

• 我们来谈谈合同的条件吧。 (Wǒmen lái tántan hétong de tiáojiàn ba.) - “Let's discuss the terms of the contract.”
• 这是我们最后的条件，不能再改了。 (Zhè shì wǒmen zuìhòu de tiáojiàn, bù néng zài gǎi le.) - “These are our final terms; they cannot be changed.”

It's used to set prerequisites for actions or to describe what one is looking for in a person or situation.

• 你想去公园可以，但条件是先做完作业。 (Nǐ xiǎng qù gōngyuán kěyǐ, dàn tiáojiàn shì xiān zuò wán zuòyè.) - “You can go to the park, but the condition is that you finish your homework first.”
• 她找男朋友的条件很高。 (Tā zhǎo nánpéngyou de tiáojiàn hěn gāo.) - “Her requirements for a boyfriend are very high.”

It's frequently combined with other words to mean “conditions” in the sense of the physical or circumstantial environment.

• 这个山区的医疗条件不太好。 (Zhège shānqū de yīliáo tiáojiàn bú tài hǎo.) - “The medical conditions in this mountain area are not very good.”
• 我们公司的工作条件和福利都很棒。 (Wǒmen gōngsī de gōngzuò tiáojiàn hé fúlì dōu hěn bàng.) - “Our company's working conditions and benefits are both great.”

• Example 1:
  • 只要你答应我一个条件，我就帮你。
  • Pinyin: Zhǐyào nǐ dāyìng wǒ yí ge tiáojiàn, wǒ jiù bāng nǐ.
  • English: As long as you agree to one condition of mine, I will help you.
  • Analysis: This shows 条件 used in a classic “if/then” bargaining situation. The structure `只要…就…` (zhǐyào…jiù… - as long as…then…) is very common with 条件.
• Example 2:
  • 这家酒店的条件非常好，有泳池还有健身房。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā jiǔdiàn de tiáojiàn fēicháng hǎo, yǒu yǒngchí hái yǒu jiànshēnfáng.
  • English: The conditions (facilities/amenities) of this hotel are excellent; it has a pool and a gym.
  • Analysis: Here, 条件 refers to the physical facilities and quality of a place. It's a very common way to describe hotels, apartments, or schools.
• Example 3:
  • 他各方面的条件都很优秀，是理想的候选人。
  • Pinyin: Tā gè fāngmiàn de tiáojiàn dōu hěn yōuxiù, shì lǐxiǎng de hòuxuǎnrén.
  • English: His qualities/attributes in every aspect are outstanding; he is an ideal candidate.
  • Analysis: In this context, 条件 refers to a person's overall attributes—their skills, background, appearance, etc. It's often used when evaluating someone for a job or as a potential partner.
• Example 4:
  • 在条件允许的情况下，我们会尽快发货。
  • Pinyin: Zài tiáojiàn yǔnxǔ de qíngkuàng xià, wǒmen huì jǐnkuài fāhuò.
  • English: Provided the conditions allow, we will ship the goods as soon as possible.
  • Analysis: This is a more formal and slightly abstract usage, common in business communication. It means “if circumstances permit.”
• Example 5:
  • 爱是无条件的。
  • Pinyin: Ài shì wútiáojiàn de.
  • English: Love is unconditional.
  • Analysis: This shows the direct antonym, 无条件 (wútiáojiàn), which means “without conditions” or “unconditional.”
• Example 6:
  • 这里的自然条件很恶劣，不适合居住。
  • Pinyin: Zhèlǐ de zìrán tiáojiàn hěn'èliè, bú shìhé jūzhù.
  • English: The natural conditions here are harsh and not suitable for living.
  • Analysis: 自然条件 (zìrán tiáojiàn) specifically refers to the natural environment: climate, terrain, resources, etc.
• Example 7:
  • 满足这些条件是申请这所大学的先决条件。
  • Pinyin: Mǎnzú zhèxiē tiáojiàn shì shēnqǐng zhè suǒ dàxué de xiānjué tiáojiàn.
  • English: Meeting these requirements is a prerequisite for applying to this university.
  • Analysis: This sentence cleverly uses 条件 twice. The second instance, 先决条件 (xiānjué tiáojiàn), is a more formal term for “prerequisite” (literally “first-deciding condition”).
• Example 8:
  • 我们必须创造有利条件来吸引外资。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bìxū chuàngzào yǒulì tiáojiàn lái xīyǐn wàizī.
  • English: We must create favorable conditions to attract foreign investment.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates a common collocation: 有利条件 (yǒulì tiáojiàn), meaning “favorable conditions.” The opposite is 不利条件 (búlì tiáojiàn).
• Example 9:
  • 如果我们的条件你不能接受，那就算了。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ wǒmen de tiáojiàn nǐ bù néng jiēshòu, nà jiù suàn le.
  • English: If you can't accept our terms, then let's just forget about it.
  • Analysis: A very direct and common sentence used in negotiations when reaching an impasse.
• Example 10:
  • 他的家庭条件不错，从小没吃过苦。
  • Pinyin: Tā de jiātíng tiáojiàn búcuò, cóngxiǎo méi chī guò kǔ.
  • English: His family's circumstances/conditions are quite good; he never experienced hardship growing up.
  • Analysis: 家庭条件 (jiātíng tiáojiàn) refers to a family's financial and social standing. This is a very common phrase in modern China.

• False Friend: Medical “Condition”
  • A very common mistake is to use 条件 (tiáojiàn) to describe a medical condition. This is incorrect. 条件 refers to requirements or circumstances, not an illness.
  • Incorrect: ~~医生说我的条件不严重。~~ (Yīshēng shuō wǒ de tiáojiàn bù yánzhòng.)
  • Correct: 医生说我的病情不严重。 (Yīshēng shuō wǒ de bìngqíng bù yánzhòng.) - “The doctor said my medical condition is not serious.” Use 病情 (bìngqíng) or just 病 (bìng).
• `条件` (tiáojiàn) vs. `情况` (qíngkuàng)
  • These two can be confusing. 条件 (tiáojiàn) are the *factors* or *prerequisites* that influence a situation. 情况 (qíngkuàng) is the *situation* or *state of affairs* itself.
  • Think of it this way: `条件` are the ingredients; `情况` is the resulting dish.
  • Example: 交通条件很差 (Jiāotōng tiáojiàn hěn chà) - “The traffic conditions (e.g., road quality, number of stoplights) are bad.” This refers to the underlying factors.
  • Example: 交通情况很糟 (Jiāotōng qíngkuàng hěn zāo) - “The traffic situation (the jam right now) is terrible.” This refers to the current state.
  • You can say: “Because the road conditions (`条件`) are poor, the traffic situation (`情况`) is very bad.”

• 要求 (yāoqiú) - A demand or a requirement. It is more active and stronger than `条件`. `要求` is what someone asks for; `条件` is what must be met.
• 规定 (guīdìng) - A rule or regulation. This is an official, often written, `条件` set by an authority (like a government or a company).
• 资格 (zīgé) - Qualifications. This refers to the personal `条件` (like education, experience) that make someone eligible for something.
• 如果 (rúguǒ) - “If.” This word is often used to introduce a clause that states a `条件`.
• 前提 (qiántí) - A prerequisite or premise. This is a more formal synonym for `条件`, often used in logical arguments or formal plans.
• 环境 (huánjìng) - Environment. This is the broader context, while `条件` can refer to specific aspects within that environment (e.g., `工作环境` vs. `工作条件`).
• 情况 (qíngkuàng) - Situation/circumstances. The state of affairs, which is often a result of various `条件`.
• 无条件 (wútiáojiàn) - Unconditional. The direct antonym, meaning “without any conditions.”