只有

zhǐ yǒu

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\)

Word relationships

Antonyms

1 item

• 所有 suǒ yǒu 所有 suǒ yǒu all as a contrast between 'only' and 'all': all

Register variants

1 item

• 唯有 wéi yǒu 唯有 wéi yǒu only formal or literary equivalent for 'only have': only

Related words

1 item

• 只要 zhǐ yào 只要 zhǐ yào if only both are conditional conjunctions, but 只有 introduces a necessary condition while 只要 introduces a sufficient condition: if only

Synonyms

1 item

• 唯一 wéi yī 唯一 wéi yī only; sole when emphasizing that something is the sole condition or option: only; sole

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.

Example Sentences

5 shown

只有 团结起来，我们才能克服困难。

Only by uniting together can we overcome difficulties.

我们 只有 短暂的休息时间。

We only have a brief rest period.

寒假 只有 一个月。

Winter vacation is only one month long.

这间房子很简陋， 只有 一张床和一张桌子。

This room is very simple and crude, with only a bed and a table.

只有 我？

Source: Tatoeba.org (ID 13112165)

Sentence data courtesy of Tatoeba.org. AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Child Words of 只有

• 只 只 zhǐ: only
• 有 有 yǒu: to have; there is
• 只 只 zhī: grain that has begun to ripen