只有才 (zhǐyǒu…cái) · only if … then …

只有才 (zhǐyǒu…cái) means “only if … then …”. It is written with 3 characters: 只 (only) + 有 (to have) + 才 (talent). It is an old HSK 3 word (HSK 2.0).

How 只有才 is built

The characters

只 zhǐ · only

What 只 is made of

口kǒu — mouth
- 冂 — frame
  - 丨 — vertical stroke
- 一 — horizontal stroke
八bā — eight

Origin hint: Simple words 八 coming from the mouth 口 (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)

有 yǒu · to have

What 有 is made of

月yuè — moon; month
- 冂 — frame
  - 丨 — vertical stroke
- 二 — two strokes
  - 一 — horizontal stroke
  - 一 — horizontal stroke

才 cái · talent

What 才 is made of

扌shǒu — hand
- 二 — two strokes
  - 一 — horizontal stroke
  - 一 — horizontal stroke
- 亅 — hook

Origin hint: A sprout growing in the ground, representing a budding talent (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)

Example sentences

只有努力学习，才能考好。Zhǐyǒu nǔlì xuéxí, cái néng kǎo hǎo.Only by studying hard can you do well in exams.

只有多说，才能说得好。Zhǐyǒu duō shuō, cái néng shuō de hǎo.Only by speaking a lot can you speak well.

Questions about 只有才

What does 只有才 mean?

只有才 (zhǐyǒu…cái) means “only if … then …”.

How do you pronounce 只有才?

只有才 is pronounced zhǐyǒu…cái.

Which HSK level is 只有才?

只有才 is in Old HSK 3.

Related words

Learn 只有才 with its group

It is part of Old HSK 3 · Group 29: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.

Open the group