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

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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
 
 
只有 (zhǐyǒu) means "only if," and is used with 才 (cái) to emphasize that ''only one'' course of action will bring about the desired outcome.
 
只有 (zhǐyǒu) means "only if," and is used with 才 (cái) to emphasize that ''only one'' course of action will bring about the desired outcome.
  
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</div>
 
</div>
  
Note that 才 is often followed by 能, but not always.
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Note that 才 is often followed by 能, but not always. This pattern is usually used for hypothetical situations, and is used what is in logic called a "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Necessity_and_sufficiency necessary and sufficient condition]," meaning "if and only if...."
  
 
== Examples ==
 
== Examples ==
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* <em>只有</em> 努力 <em>才</em> 能 做 好 工作。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zhǐyǒu</em> nǔlì <em>cái</em> néng zuò hǎo gōngzuò.</span><span class="trans">Only if you work hard is it possible to do a good job.</span>
 
* <em>只有</em> 努力 <em>才</em> 能 做 好 工作。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zhǐyǒu</em> nǔlì <em>cái</em> néng zuò hǎo gōngzuò.</span><span class="trans">Only if you work hard is it possible to do a good job.</span>
 
* <em>只有</em> 多 吃饭 <em>才</em> 能 长高。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zhǐyǒu</em> duō chīfàn <em>cái</em> néng zhǎng gāo.</span><span class="trans">Only if you eat more will you be able to grow tall.</span>
 
* <em>只有</em> 多 吃饭 <em>才</em> 能 长高。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zhǐyǒu</em> duō chīfàn <em>cái</em> néng zhǎng gāo.</span><span class="trans">Only if you eat more will you be able to grow tall.</span>
* <em>只有</em> 多 说,你的中文 <em>才</em> 会 提高。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zhǐyǒu</em> duō shuō, nǐ de Zhōngwén <em>cái</em> huì tígāo.</span><span class="trans">Only if you speak more will your Chinese improve.</span>
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* <em>只有</em> 多 说,你的 中文 <em>才</em> 会 提高。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zhǐyǒu</em> duō shuō, nǐ de Zhōngwén <em>cái</em> huì tígāo.</span><span class="trans">Only if you speak more will your Chinese improve.</span>
 
* <em>只有</em> 大家 一起 做 <em>才</em> 能 成功。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zhǐyǒu</em> dàjiā yīqǐ zuò <em>cái</em> néng chénggōng.</span><span class="trans">Only if everyone works together can we succeed.</span>
 
* <em>只有</em> 大家 一起 做 <em>才</em> 能 成功。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zhǐyǒu</em> dàjiā yīqǐ zuò <em>cái</em> néng chénggōng.</span><span class="trans">Only if everyone works together can we succeed.</span>
 
* <em>只有</em> 写 完 你的 作业 <em>才</em> 能 看 电视。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zhǐyǒu</em> xiě wán nǐ de zuòyè <em>cái</em> néng kàn diànshì.</span><span class="trans">Only if you finish your homework can you watch TV.</span>
 
* <em>只有</em> 写 完 你的 作业 <em>才</em> 能 看 电视。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zhǐyǒu</em> xiě wán nǐ de zuòyè <em>cái</em> néng kàn diànshì.</span><span class="trans">Only if you finish your homework can you watch TV.</span>
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* <em>只有</em> 学习 了 拼音,你 <em>才</em> 能 更 好 地 学 汉字。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zhǐyǒu</em> xuéxí le pīnyīn, nǐ <em>cái</em> néng gèng hǎo de xué hànzì.</span><span class="trans">Only if you have learned pinyin can you learn Chinese characters better.</span>
 
* <em>只有</em> 学习 了 拼音,你 <em>才</em> 能 更 好 地 学 汉字。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zhǐyǒu</em> xuéxí le pīnyīn, nǐ <em>cái</em> néng gèng hǎo de xué hànzì.</span><span class="trans">Only if you have learned pinyin can you learn Chinese characters better.</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
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Note that for each of these examples, events have ''not'' already occurred. If they have, consider using the [[Expressing "only after" with "cai"|"only after" 才 pattern]] which doesn't use 只有.
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
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* Yale Chinese Usage Dictionary [http://comet.cls.yale.edu/chineseusagedictionary/0127.html 只 and 只有]
 
* Yale Chinese Usage Dictionary [http://comet.cls.yale.edu/chineseusagedictionary/0127.html 只 and 只有]
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* Wikipedia: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Necessity_and_sufficiency Necessity and sufficiency]
  
 
[[Category: B2 grammar points]]
 
[[Category: B2 grammar points]]

Revision as of 04:31, 26 November 2020

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

Structure

只有 + Essential Condition + 才 (能) + Desired Outcome

Note that 才 is often followed by 能, but not always. This pattern is usually used for hypothetical situations, and is used what is in logic called a "necessary and sufficient condition," meaning "if and only if...."

Examples

  • 只有 努力 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 吃饭 能 长高。Zhǐyǒu duō chīfàn cái néng zhǎng gāo.Only if you eat more will you be able to grow tall.
  • 只有 多 说,你的 中文 会 提高。Zhǐyǒu duō shuō, nǐ de Zhōngwén cái huì tígāo.Only if you speak more will your Chinese improve.
  • 只有 大家 一起 做 能 成功。Zhǐyǒu dàjiā yīqǐ zuò cái néng chénggōng.Only if everyone works together can we succeed.
  • 只有 写 完 你的 作业 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 妈妈 在 我们 能 出去 玩。 Zhǐyǒu māma zài wǒmen cái néng chūqù wán.Only if Mom is here can we go out and play.
  • 只有 每天 跑步,你的 身体 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 老板 同意 这个 建议,我们 能 做。Zhǐyǒu lǎobǎn tóngyì zhège jiànyì, wǒmen cái néng zuò.We can only do this if the boss agrees with the suggestion.
  • 只有 你 吃 过 了,你 能 说 好 不 好吃。Zhǐyǒu nǐ chī guò le, nǐ cái néng shuō hǎo bù hǎochī.You can only tell if it's good or not if you have eaten it before.
  • 只有 学习 了 拼音,你 能 更 好 地 学 汉字。Zhǐyǒu xuéxí le pīnyīn, nǐ cái néng gèng hǎo de xué hànzì.Only if you have learned pinyin can you learn Chinese characters better.

Note that for each of these examples, events have not already occurred. If they have, consider using the "only after" 才 pattern which doesn't use 只有.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites