3 · Linking clauses
As long as, only if: zhǐyào, zhǐyǒu
a condition that is enough, and one that is required
Zhǐyào … jiù names a condition that is enough; zhǐyǒu … cái names the one condition without which nothing happens.
只要 … 就 means “as long as”: the condition is enough, and once it is met the result follows. 只要你努力，就能学好, “as long as you work hard, you can learn it well” — nothing more is needed.
只有 … 才 means “only if”: the condition is required, and without it the result does not happen. 只有多练习，才能说得流利, “only with a lot of practice can you speak fluently” — there is no other way.
The second adverb carries the difference, and it is the same contrast as everywhere else in Chinese: 就 says “easily, already, as soon as that”, 才 says “only then, not before”. So the pairs do not mix: 只要 takes 就 and 只有 takes 才. Both adverbs stand after the subject of the second clause.
English “only if” and “as long as” are easy to confuse, and so are the two Chinese words, which differ by one syllable. One more thing to keep apart: 只有 before a noun can mean simply “only have” (我只有十块钱), and before a person with 才 it means “only this one”: 只有他才知道, “only he knows”.
The form
| enough: as long as | 只要你努力，就能学好。 |
| required: only if | 只有多练习，才能说得流利。 |
| only this person | 只有他才知道密码。 |
| 只要 after the subject | 你只要按这个按钮就行了。 |
| only have — not a condition | 我只有十块钱。 |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is about
只要 … 就: the condition is enough — once it is met, the result follows.
只要不下雨，我们就去野餐。As long as it doesn’t rain, we’ll go for a picnic.
只有 … 才: the condition is required — without it, the result does not happen.
只有买了票，才能进去。You can only go in if you have bought a ticket.
The pairs do not mix: 只要 goes with 就, 只有 with 才.
只有你去请他，他才会来。He will only come if you go and invite him yourself.
只有 before a noun picks out the only one: “only X can …”.
这个问题只有王老师才能回答。Only Teacher Wang can answer this question.
A closer look
Jiù and cái, once more
These two patterns are the clearest case of a contrast that runs through the whole language. 他八点就来了 means he came as early as eight; 他十点才来 means he did not come until ten. 就makes things sound easy and early才makes them sound hard and late A sufficient condition is “easy”, a necessary one is “hard”, and the adverbs follow.
“Unless” uses the same logic from the other side: 除非 names the one condition, and the second half says what happens without it, often with 否则 or 不然: 除非你去，否则他不会来, “unless you go, he won’t come”.
Exceptions and special cases (1)
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只有 is followed by a quantity and no second clause
it is simply 只 + 有, “only have, there are only” — no condition and no 才.
冰箱里只有两个鸡蛋了。There are only two eggs left in the fridge.
The same two characters are also the adverb “only” and the verb “to have”. Only the pattern with a second clause and 才 is the conditional.
How to spot it
- 只要
- 只有
- 只要…就…
- 只有…才…
Example sentences
只要你喜欢，我就高兴。As long as you like it, I’m happy.
只有每天坚持练习，你才能进步。Only by practising every day will you improve.
这种药只要吃一次就有效。You only need to take this medicine once for it to work.
只有周末我才有时间睡懒觉。It’s only at the weekend that I have time for a lie-in.
只要有网，我在家就能工作。As long as there’s an internet connection, I can work from home.
只有你才明白我的意思。You’re the only one who understands what I mean.
7 more example sentences
只要认真复习，考试就没问题。As long as you revise properly, the exam won’t be a problem.
只有到了冬天，这儿才会下雪。It only snows here in winter.
你只要告诉我地址，我就能找到。All you need to do is give me the address and I’ll find it.
只有了解一个国家的文化，才能真正学好它的语言。Only by understanding a country’s culture can you really master its language.
只要价钱合适，我就买。As long as the price is right, I’ll buy it.
这扇门只有用卡才能打开。This door can only be opened with a card.
只要大家一起努力，就一定能完成。As long as we all work together, we can definitely get it done.
Worth knowing (1)
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“As long as” about time
English “as long as” also measures time: “stay as long as you like”. That is not 只要; Chinese repeats a question word instead, with 就 between the two halves.
你想住多久就住多久。Stay as long as you like.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
只有 says the condition is the only way, and 就 says the result comes easily — the two pull against each other. The partner of 只有 is 才, “only then”.
Zhǐyào goes with jiù (that is enough); zhǐyǒu goes with cái (nothing else will do).
Your turn
8 exercises on this topic. Your answers are checked in the browser; none of them leaves your device.