Expressing "as long as" with "zhiyao"

只要⋯⋯就 (zhǐyào... jiù) means "as long as... then...." In other words, whenever A happens, B (always) results.

Structure

Use this structure to express that "as long as" [something happens], "then" [something else will happen]. In logic, this is referred to as a "sufficient condition," meaning that it may not be the only way to bring about the these specific consequences, but it is one way.

只要 + Condition ，就 + Result

Examples

• 只要 下雨， 她 就 会 心情 不 好 。 Zhǐyào xiàyǔ, tā jiù huì xīnqíng bù hǎo.As long as it's raining, she will be in a bad mood.
• 只要 有 你 在， 我 就 放心 了 。 Zhǐyào yǒu nǐ zài, wǒ jiù fàngxīn le.As long as you are here, I won't be worried.
• 只要 看 到 妈妈， 宝宝 就 不 哭 了 。 Zhǐyào kàn dào māma, bǎobao jiù bù kū le.As long it sees its mother, the baby will stop crying.
• 只要 你 完成 了 工作， 就 可以 不 用 加班 。 Zhǐyào nǐ wánchéng le gōngzuò, jiù kěyǐ bùyòng jiābān.As long as you finish your work, there is no need to do overtime.
• 只要 你 妈妈 同意 你 去 北京， 我 就 没有 意见 。 Zhǐyào nǐ māma tóngyì nǐ qù Běijīng, wǒ jiù méiyǒu yìjiàn.As long as your mother agrees for you to go to Beijing, I have no issue.
• 只要 你 努力 学习， 就 会 有 进步 。 Zhǐyào nǐ nǔlì xuéxí, jiù huì yǒu jìnbù.As long as you study hard, you'll make progress.
• 只要 你 真的 喜欢， 我 就 给 你 买 。 Zhǐyào nǐ zhēnde xǐhuan, wǒ jiù gěi nǐ mǎi.As long as you really like it, I will buy it for you.
• 只要 不 堵车， 我们 就 能 准时 到 。 Zhǐyào bù dǔchē, wǒmen jiù néng zhǔnshí dào.As long as there won't be traffic jam, we can be there on time.
• 只要 你 不 生气 ， 我 就 告诉 你 。 Zhǐyào nǐ bù shēngqì, wǒ jiù gàosu nǐ.As long as you won't get mad, I'll tell you.
• 只要 你 的 要求 是 合理 的 ， 我们 就 可以 考虑 。 Zhǐyào nǐ de yāoqiú shì hélǐ de, wǒmen jiù kěyǐ kǎolǜ.As long as your requirements are reasonable, we will considerate then.

See also

• "Only if" with "zhiyou"
• "If…, then…" with "ruguo…, jiu…"

Sources and further reading

Books

• HSK Standard Course 3 (pp. 154) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• HSK Standard Course 4上 (pp. 93) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3) (pp. 83) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2 (pp. 124) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 (pp. 112) 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 →buy

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