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只有 (zhǐ yǒu) — only if, only when (used with 才 to indicate a necessary condition)

Definition

只有 + condition pairs with 才 to mark a necessary condition: "only if / only when". Unlike 除非 (unless), it states the single sufficient path, not an exception. 别 confuse with 只是 (merely/just).

conjunction
only ifonly when (used with 才 to indicate a necessary condition)

Examples

  • 只有，。
    zhǐ yǒu Nǔ lì xué xí, cái néng qǔ dé hǎo chéng jì.
    Only by studying hard can you get good grades.
  • 只有，。
    zhǐ yǒu Nǐ qīn zì lái, wǒ cái huì xiāng xìn.
    Only if you come in person will I believe it.
  • 只有，。
    zhǐ yǒu Jiān chí duàn liàn, cái néng bǎo chí jiàn kāng.
    Only by persisting in exercise can you stay healthy.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

只zhīonly
有yǒuhave

The sense of 只 meaning only combined with 有 meaning have says only one situation exists, so it marks the sole necessary condition.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

只 shows air coming out of a mouth, for a word used in speech.

Open 只 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
肉肉ròumeat
Sound part声符shēngfú
又
又yòu有yǒu
Same sound today

The form 有 combines 又, used for its sound, with a shape from 肉, 'meat'; the hand-holding-meat story is a folk explanation, not shown in the oldest shape.

Open 有 →

Grammar

Appears in
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