只有

zhǐ yǒu

HSK 2.0 Level 4 HSK 3.0 Level 3 Conjunction Very common

Definitions

1. only have ...
2. there is only ...
3. it is only ... (who ...) (Example: 只有男性才有此需要[zhǐ yǒu nán xìng cái yǒu cǐ xū yào] \only men would have such a requirement\)
4. (used to indicate that one has no alternative) one can only (do a certain thing) (Example: 只有屈服[zhǐ yǒu qū fú] \the only thing you can do is give in\)

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Word relationships

Antonyms

1 item

所有

suǒ yǒu

all

as a contrast between 'only' and 'all'

Register variants

1 item

唯有

wéi yǒu

only

formal or literary equivalent for 'only have'

Related words

1 item

只要

zhǐ yào

if only

both are conditional conjunctions, but 只有 introduces a necessary condition while 只要 introduces a sufficient condition

Synonyms

1 item

唯一

wéi yī

only; sole

when emphasizing that something is the sole condition or option

Usage notes

Common mistakes

Learners often confuse 只有 (necessary condition 'only if') with 只要 (sufficient condition 'as long as'); 只有 must be paired with 才, while 只要 is paired with 就.

Grammar