HSK 2
只要...就...: As Long As in Chinese
只要...就... presents a condition as sufficient for a result: once that condition is met, the result can follow. The pattern differs from 只有...才..., which marks a necessary condition. Subjects may appear before or after 只要 according to scope, but each side still needs a complete clause.
STRUCTURE
只要 + Condition, Subject + 就 + Result
When to use 只要…就… — and when not
Use it when
- State a sufficient condition: 只要认真学习，就会进步。
- Offer reassurance based on an achievable condition.
- Describe a rule whose result follows whenever the stated requirement is met.
Don't use it when
- Use 只有...才... when the condition is necessary rather than merely sufficient.
- Do not leave either the condition or result clause incomplete.
- Do not place 就 before the subject when it makes the result clause structurally incomplete.
Right vs. wrong
只要你，就会进步。
只要你认真学习，就会进步。
The condition lacks its required predicate
只要 must introduce a complete condition, not only a subject pronoun.
只要天气好，我们就。
只要天气好，我们就去公园。
The result marker is left without a result
就 must introduce the result that follows from the condition.
Examples
只要认真学习，就会进步。
Zhǐyào rènzhēn xuéxí, jiù huì jìnbù.
As long as you study seriously, you will improve.
只要你愿意，我们就一起去。
Zhǐyào nǐ yuànyì, wǒmen jiù yìqǐ qù.
As long as you are willing, we will go together.
只要通过考试，我就送你一件礼物。
Zhǐyào tōngguò kǎoshì, wǒ jiù sòng nǐ yí jiàn lǐwù.
As long as you pass the exam, I will give you a gift.
Common mistakes
只要你，就会进步。
Zhǐyào nǐ, jiù huì jìnbù.
Complete the condition after 只要, such as 你认真学习.
只要天气好，我们就。
Zhǐyào tiānqì hǎo, wǒmen jiù.
Add the complete result after 就.
Think you've got it?
Write your own 只要…就… sentence and check that grammar point first.
只要...就...: As Long As FAQ
How is 只要...就... different from 只有...才...?
只要...就... gives a sufficient condition. 只有...才... says the condition is necessary before the result can happen.
Can the subject come before 只要?
Yes. Subject placement depends on whether the subject belongs to one clause or scopes over the whole conditional sentence.
Related Chinese grammar points
只有…才
只有...才: Only If Condition
Easy to confuse
Distinguish a sufficient condition from a necessary only-if condition.
如果…就
如果...就 (If... Then)
Easy to confuse
Compare an as-long-as guarantee with a neutral open condition.
凡是…都…
凡是...都... (fánshì...dōu)
Compare
Compare one sufficient condition with a rule covering every qualifying case.