Conditional Conjunction 只要…就… (zhǐyào...jiù...) – As Long As

Pattern

• 只要 + Condition ，就 + Result
• 只要 + Clause 1 ，就 + Clause 2

Usage

• The correlative pair 只要…就… (zhǐyào…jiù…) introduces a sufficient condition in Chinese, translating into English as “as long as”, “provided that”, or “so long as”.
• The clause introduced by 只要 presents a single, accessible requirement, while the clause with 就 guarantees the ensuing positive result.
• For instance: 只要你努力，就能成功 ('As long as you work hard, you can succeed').
• This structure frequently serves to reassure, encourage, or offer promises.
• It contrasts critically with 只有…才… (zhǐyǒu…cái…, 'only if... then...'), which specifies an exclusive necessary condition (a strict prerequisite)

Examples

1. 1

   只要你努力,就能成功。

   Zhǐyào nǐ nǔlì, jiù néng chénggōng.

   As long as you work hard, you can succeed.

2. 2

   只要不下雨,我们就去爬山。

   Zhǐyào bú xià yǔ, wǒmen jiù qù pá shān.

   As long as it doesn't rain, we will go mountain climbing.

3. 3

   只要有时间,我就会来看你。

   Zhǐyào yǒu shíjiān, wǒ jiù huì lái kàn nǐ.

   As long as I have time, I will come to visit you.