Chinese–EnglishWith examples

只要

zhǐ yào · zhi yao

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 2Old HSK 4

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. if only
  2. so long as
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In a conversation

0:21 cartoon

Learning to ride a bike

  1. Liangliang

    骑车(qíchē)很(hěn)简单(jiǎndān)，只要(zhǐyào)往前(wǎngqián)看(kàn)，就(jiù)不会(bùhuì)摔(shuāi)。

    Riding is easy. As long as you look ahead, you won't fall.

  2. Dengdeng

    只要(zhǐyào)你(nǐ)扶着(fúzhe)车(chē)，我(wǒ)就(jiù)不(bù)怕(pà)。

    As long as you hold the bike, I'm not afraid.

  3. Liangliang

    好(hǎo)，我(wǒ)扶着(fúzhe)。你(nǐ)往前(wǎngqián)骑(qí)！

    Okay, I'm holding it. Pedal forward!

  4. Dengdeng

    你(nǐ)一直(yīzhí)扶着(fúzhe)吗(ma)？

    Are you still holding it?

  5. Liangliang

    没有(méiyǒu)，我(wǒ)早就(zǎojiù)松手(sōngshǒu)了(le)！

    No, I let go a long time ago!

  6. Dengdeng

    什么(shénme)？我(wǒ)已经(yǐjīng)骑(qí)这么(zhème)远(yuǎn)了(le)！

    What? I have ridden this far already!

Tap a word for its meaning in this line. The characters’ voices are computer-generated.

In a sentence

2 examples
01

只(zhǐ)要(yào)他(tā)写(xiě)作(zuò)业(yè)，他(tā)就(jiù)能(néng)玩(wán)游(yóu)戏(xì)了(le)。

He can play computer games as long as he does his homework.

Tatoeba: Chinese by GlossaMatik · English by mervert1 · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

02

只(zhǐ)要(yào)明(míng)天(tiān)不(bú)下(xià)雨(yǔ)，我(wǒ)们(men)就(jiù)去(qù)公(gōng)园(yuán)。

As long as it doesn't rain tomorrow, we'll go to the park.

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How to write

Stroke order & practice

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

The characters

Explore individually
只
zhǐ

only; merely; just

要
yào

to want; to need; to ask for; will; shall; about to

Individual character meanings do not always explain the meaning of a whole word.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

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