只有……，才……
only if …; only by … (nothing else will do)
Structure
只有 + 条件 ，（主语 +）才 + 结果
What it means
只有 names the one condition that must be met: “only if…, only by…”. Nothing else will do.
How it is built
只有 + condition，(subject +) 才 + result: 只有买了门票，才可以进去 (you can only go in if you’ve bought a ticket). 才 goes after the subject, right before the verb, often as 才能, 才会, 才可以.
When to use it
Compare 只要……就…… “as long as” (h2-17): 只要买票就能进去 says a ticket is enough; 只有买票才能进去 says there’s no other way in.
Watch out
Don’t mix the pairs: ✗ 只有买了票，就能进去。 ✓ 只有买了票，才能进去。 Put 才 after the subject: ✗ 只有多说，才你的汉语会进步。 ✓ 只有多说，你的汉语才会进步。
Examples
只有早上来，才看得到熊猫吃早饭。
Only if you come in the morning will you see the pandas having breakfast.
只有买了门票，才可以进去。
You can only go in if you’ve bought a ticket.
只有多听多说，你的汉语才会进步。
Only by listening and speaking a lot will your Chinese improve.
Learn this in HSK 3 · Lesson 14: 保护熊猫 (Saving the panda)
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.
Open the lesson →