Difference between revisions of "Expressing "only if" with "zhiyou""

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{{Similar|The "if" sandwich pattern}}
 
{{Similar|The "if" sandwich pattern}}
 
{{Used for|Indicating cause and effect}}
 
{{Used for|Indicating cause and effect}}
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{{Used for|Indicating conditions}}
 
{{Structure|Conditional Statements}}
 
{{Structure|Conditional Statements}}
 
{{Translation|if}}
 
{{Translation|if}}

Revision as of 09:33, 11 July 2013

只有 (zhǐyǒu) means "only if", and is used with 才 to emphasize that only one course of action will bring about the desired outcome.

Structure

只有 + [essential condition] + 才 + [desired outcome]

Examples

  • 只有 努力 能 做 好 工作。Only with hard work is it possible to do a good job.
  • 只有 经济 发展 会 有 更 好 的 明天。Only if the economy develops will it be possible to have an even better tomorrow.
  • 只有 多 吃饭 能 长高。Only if you eat more will you be able to grow tall.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites