Definition
唯有 (wéi yǒu) is a formal, literary conjunction meaning 'only if / only' — it emphasizes that something is the sole condition or entity for a result, and is typically used with 才 in written or elevated speech. It is more literary and emphatic than 只有 (zhǐ yǒu), which is the everyday spoken equivalent; 除非 (chú fēi) means 'unless' and focuses on the exception rather than the sole condition.
onlyonly if (introducing the sole condition or entity for an outcome)
Examples
- 唯有，。wéi yǒu búduàn xuéxí, cái néng búduàn jìnbù.Only by continuous learning can you keep making progress.
- 唯有。wéi yǒu tā cái néng jiějué zhège wèntí.Only he can solve this problem.
- 唯有，。wéi yǒu tuánjié yízhì, wǒmen cái néng zhànshèng kùnnan.Only by uniting as one can we overcome difficulties.
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