只要
HSK 3 (exam 2025)HSK 2 (2021)Old HSK 4
只要 (zhǐyào) · as long as
只要 (zhǐyào) means “as long as; if only”. It is written with 2 characters: 只 (only) + 要 (to want). It is an HSK 3 word in the current exam syllabus (2025).
How 只要 is built
The characters
只 zhǐ · only
What 只 is made of
- 口kǒu — mouth
- 冂 — frame
- 丨 — vertical stroke
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 冂 — frame
- 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)
要 yào · to want
What 要 is made of
- 覀xī — west
- 女nǚ — woman
Origin hint: A woman 女 with hands on her waist 覀 (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
Example sentences
只要你来，我就高兴。Zhǐyào nǐ lái, wǒ jiù gāoxìng.As long as you come, I'll be happy.
只要努力，你一定能学好。Zhǐyào nǔlì, nǐ yīdìng néng xuéhǎo.As long as you work hard, you'll learn it well.
Questions about 只要
What does 只要 mean?
只要 (zhǐyào) means “as long as; if only”.
How do you pronounce 只要?
只要 is pronounced zhǐyào.
Which HSK level is 只要?
只要 is in HSK 3 (exam 2025) and HSK 2 (2021) and Old HSK 4.
Related words
- 只能zhǐnéngcan only
- 只好zhǐhǎoto have to
- 只是zhǐshìjust
- 只有zhǐyǒuonly
- 只有才zhǐyǒu…cáionly if … then …
- 只zhǐonly
- 重要zhòngyàoimportant
- 不要bùyàodon't
- 就要jiùyàoto be about to
- 快要kuàiyàoto be about to
Learn 只要 with its group
It is part of HSK 2 (2021) · Group 30: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.