only if; only when
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesconjunction
only if; only when
Introduces a necessary condition; often followed by '才' (cái) or '方' (fāng) in the main clause to indicate the result.
Zhǐ只
yǒu有
nǔ努
lì力
xué学
xí习
，
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
tā他
tóng同
yì意
，
wǒ我
men们
cái才
néng能
kāi开
shǐ始
zhè这
ge个
xiàng项
mù目
。
Only if he agrees can we start this project.
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Zhǐ只
yǒu有
xià下
yǔ雨
tiān天
，
tā他
cái才
zuò坐
chū出
zū租
chē车
shàng上
bān班
。
Only when it rains does he take a taxi to work.
Zhǐ只
yǒu有
zhēn真
zhèng正
liǎo了
jiě解
qíng情
kuàng况
，
fāng方
néng能
zuò做
chū出
zhèng正
què确
pàn判
duàn断
。
Only by truly understanding the situation can one make a correct judgment.