单靠…,还需…
A alone will not do it; B is needed as well
Structure
单靠/光靠/仅靠 A 很难/不够 , 还需/还要/还得 B (才能…)
What it means
Says one means alone is too weak to do the job, and something else is needed as well, often to reach a goal named at the end.
How it is built
单靠 + A + 很难/不够, 还需/还要/还得 + B (才能 + goal): 单靠一次体检很难发现所有的问题,还需定期复查 (One check-up can't catch everything; regular follow-ups are needed).
When to use it
Standard in commentary and policy talk (单靠补贴, 单靠市场). 光靠 is spoken, 仅靠/仅凭 written; 不能只靠A,更要靠B gives it as advice. With 就 it praises: 他单靠自学就考上了大学.
Watch out
The goal takes 才能, not 就能, because it depends on B too: ✓ 还需…,才能解除后顾之忧. Without a verdict such as 很难 or 不行, 单靠A就… reads as praise instead.
Examples
治理空气污染,光靠罚款不行,还要帮企业改进技术。
Fines alone will not clean up the air; companies also need help to improve their technology.
单靠课堂上那几个小时很难学好一门外语,课后还得多听多说。
A few hours in class are not enough on their own to learn a foreign language well; you also have to listen and speak a lot outside class.
单靠一次体检很难发现所有的问题,还需定期复查。
A single check-up cannot catch every problem; regular follow-up tests are needed as well.
Learn this in Lesson 113 · HSK 7–9: 育儿补贴来了 (Livelihood news: the new childcare subsidy)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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