Expressing "as long as" with "zhiyao"

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

• New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3) (pp. 83) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2 (p. 124) →buy
• 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 (p. 112) →buy