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只要 (zhǐ yào) — provided that, as long as, so long as

Definition

A conjunction meaning 'as long as / provided that' — the condition is sufficient on its own. Unlike 但愿 (which expresses a wish), 只要 states a real condition.

conjunction
provided thatas long asso long as

Examples

  • 只要，。
    zhǐ yào Tiān qì hǎo, wǒ men jiù qù gōng yuán.
    As long as the weather is good, we'll go to the park.
  • 只要，。
    zhǐ yào Rèn zhēn xué xí, jiù néng kǎo hǎo.
    As long as you study seriously, you can do well on the exam.
  • 只要，。
    zhǐ yào Nǐ yǒu shí jiān, jiù lái bāng wǒ.
    Come help me as long as you have time.

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
要yàoneed

The sense of 只 meaning only combined with 要 meaning need says one condition is all that is needed, so if it holds the result follows.

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 →

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

要 began as a drawing of a person with both hands pointing to the waist.

Open 要 →

Grammar

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 3500 Most Frequent Chinese WordsHSK 2.0 Level 41000 Most Frequent Chinese Words2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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