只有……才…… (zhǐ yǒu ……cái): Meaning, Examples & Usage
Hanzi Stroke
Dictionary
By Character
Browse all characters A-Z
By Pinyin
Search by pronunciation
By Radical
Find by radical component
By Components
Learn meaning and sound clues
HSK
HSK Lists
All HSK versions overview
HSK 2.0
Tools
Learn & Practice
Worksheet Generator
Blog
Learning Essentials
Home
Dictionary
只有……才……
只有……才…… (zhǐ yǒu ……cái): Only if…then... (关联) — Meaning & Usage
1.
Animated Stroke Order
Practice Writing
2.
Printable Writing Worksheet
Create Worksheet
Create
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5
Level 6
HSK 3.0
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5
Level 6
Level 7-9
Create practice sheets for free
Worksheet Library
HSK, Top 100 & themed PDFs
Writing Practice
Practice HSK and saved words
Dictation Practice
Listen and write HSK characters
Flashcard Review
SRS review for HSK and custom decks
HSK Level Checker
Check HSK level of any text
Pinyin Converter
Convert Chinese to Pinyin
My Learning
Learning Dashboard
Track your writing progress
My Vocabulary
Review saved words and lists
Fun & Culture
Name Generator
Create your Chinese name
View All Tools
8 Basic Strokes Guide
Hot
Foundation of all characters
Pinyin Tones Guide
4 tones with audio examples
Chinese Handwriting Guide
Daily practice routine
HSK 3.0 Complete Guide
New
New exam format explained
HSK 1 Common Mistakes
Avoid beginner errors
Topics & Culture
Chinese Numbers 1-1000
Count like a native
Time & Dates Guide
Tell time in Chinese
Family Members Guide
30+ family terms
2026 Fire Horse Year
Hot
Zodiac meaning & luck
Top 100 Characters
Most frequent, free PDF
View All Blog Posts
3.
Character Breakdown
只
有
……
才
……
只 • zhǐ • only • HSK 2.0 L2
HSK 2
zhǐ
只
only
有 • yǒu • to have • HSK 2.0 L1
HSK 1
yǒu
有
to have
才 • ……cái • just now, only then, not until • HSK 3.0 · L3
HSK 3.0 · L3
才
just now, only then, not until
Zodiac Calculator
Find your zodiac animal
Words Sharing Characters
More common words that include characters from 只有……才…….
Words with
只
只是
zhǐ shì
merely; only; just; nothing but
只有
zhǐ yǒu
only have ...
只能
zhǐ néng
can only
只好
zhǐ hǎo
have to; forced to
只要
zhǐ yào
so long as ...
只得
zhǐ dé
to have no alternative but to; to be obliged to
只顾
zhǐ gù
solely preoccupied (with one thing)
船只
chuán zhī
ship
Words with
有
有些
yǒu xiē
some
有的
yǒu de
(there are) some (who are...)
没有
méi yǒu
don't have
有点儿
yǒu diǎn r
slightly
Words with
…
不但……而且……
bù dàn ……ér qiě ……
not only……but also……
因为……所以……
yīn wèi ……suǒ yǐ ……
because
虽然……但是……
suī rán ……dàn shì ……
although
Words with
才
刚才
gāng cái
just now
人才
rén cái
a talented person; talent
天才
tiān cái
genius; talent; gift
才华
cái huá
talent
有时
yǒu shí
sometimes
有意思
yǒu yì si
interesting
只有
zhǐ yǒu
only have ...
有关
yǒu guān
to have sth to do with
才干
cái gàn
ability; competence; capability
才能
cái néng
talent
多才多艺
duō cái-duō yì
versatile; multi-talented
口才
kǒu cái
Eloquence / speaking ability
4.
How to Use 只有……才…… in Sentences
Adverbial of Time + Verb
with
周末
zhǐ
只
yǒu
有
zhōu
周
mò
末
cái
才
yǒu
有
kòng
空
neutral
only on weekends do I have time
Conditional Clause
zhǐ
只
yǒu
有
xià
下
yǔ
雨
cái
才
qǔ
取
xiāo
消
Subject + Verb
with
你
zhǐ
只
yǒu
有
nǐ
你
cái
才
néng
能
bāng
帮
wǒ
我
5.
Example Sentences with 只有……才……
zhǐ
只
yǒu
有
nǔ
努
lì
力
xué
学
xí
习
，
neutral
only if it rains will it be cancelled
zhǐ
只
yǒu
有
nǔ
努
lì
力
cái
才
néng
能
chéng
成
gōng
功
neutral
only through hard work can one succeed
neutral
Spoken
only you can help me
cái
才
néng
能
qǔ
取
dé
得
hǎo
好
chéng
成
jì
绩
。
Only if you study hard, can you achieve good grades.
zhǐ
只
yǒu
有
tí
提
qián
前
yù
预
yuē
约
，
cái
才
néng
能
què
确
bǎo
保
yǒu
有
wèi
位
zǐ
子
。
Only by making a reservation in advance can you ensure there is a seat.
zhǐ
只
yǒu
有
shuāng
双
fāng
方
dá
达
chéng
成
gòng
共
shí
识
，
hé
合
zuò
作
cái
才
néng
能
shùn
顺
lì
利
jìn
进
xíng
行
。
Only if both parties reach a consensus can the cooperation proceed smoothly.
zhǐ
只
yǒu
有
duō
多
liàn
练
xí
习
，
cái
才
néng
能
tí
提
gāo
高
hàn
汉
yǔ
语
shuǐ
水
píng
平
。
Only by practicing more can you improve your Chinese level.
zhǐ
只
yǒu
有
nǐ
你
qīn
亲
zì
自
qù
去
wèn
问
，
cái
才
néng
能
zhī
知
dào
道
què
确
qiè
切
dá
答
àn
案
ma
吗
？
Only if you go and ask in person can you know the exact answer?
