Conditional StatementsHSK 5
Expressing "only if" with 只有
To express 'only if', place 只有 before the essential condition and follow it with 才 to introduce the result. The adverb 能 or 会 often appears after 才, but the pattern can also work with just 才.
Structure
只有 + Condition + 才 (+ 能 / 会) + Result
能 or 会 are often used after 才, but not required.
Examples
- 只有努力才能做好工作。Zhǐyǒu nǔlì cái néng zuò hǎo gōngzuò.Only if you work hard is it possible to do a good job.
- 只有多说，你的中文才会提高。Zhǐyǒu duō shuō, nǐ de Zhōngwén cái huì tígāo.Only if you speak more will your Chinese improve.
- 只有写完你的作业才能看电视。Zhǐyǒu xiě wán nǐ de zuòyè cái néng kàn diànshì.Only if you finish your homework can you watch TV.
- 只有每天跑步，你的身体才会健康。Zhǐyǒu měi tiān pǎobù, nǐ de shēntǐ cái huì jiànkāng.Only if you go running every day can you have a healthy body.
- 只有你吃过了，你才能说好不好吃。Zhǐyǒu nǐ chī guò le, nǐ cái néng shuō hǎo bu hǎochī.You can only tell if it's good or not if you have eaten it before.
Words that use this
- 只有zhǐ yǒuonly have ...; there is only ...; (used in combination with 才) it is only if one ... (that one can ...) (Example: 只有通过治疗才能痊愈 "the only way to cure it is with therapy"); it is only ... (who ...) (Example: 要 "only men would have such a requirement"); (used to indicate that one has no alternative) one can only (do a certain thing) (Example: 服 "the only thing you can do is give in")
- 才cáiability; talent; sb of a certain type; a capable individual; then and only then; just now; (before an expression of quantity) only