▎只要 A，就 B, (zhĭyào (Conj) A, jiù (Adv) B), B is true, as long as A is true.

 

Function 只要 is a conjunction presenting a condition in the first clause, which is followed by a second clause of consequence, introduced by an adverb 就. As long as the condition is met, the consequence follows.

1 只要坐捷運，就能到臺北很多地方去玩。

Zhǐyào zuò jiéyùn, jiù néng dào Táiběi hěn duō dìfāng qù wán.

As long as, i.e., if, you take the MRT, you can get to many places in Taipei.

2 你只要到郵局或是便利商店，就找得到提款機，可以提錢。

Nǐ zhǐyào dào yóujú huò shì biànlì shāngdiàn, jiù zhǎodedào tíkuǎnjī, kěyǐ tí qián.

As long as, i.e., if, you go to a post office or a convenience store, you can find an ATM to withdraw money.

3 只要你在說中文的環境裡，你的中文就會進步得快一點。

Zhǐyào nǐ zài shuō Zhōngwén de huánjìng lǐ, nǐ de Zhōngwén jiù huì jìnbù de kuài yìdiǎn.

As long as you are in a Chinese-speaking environment, your Chinese will improve a bit more quickly.

4 你只要去參觀故宮博物院，就可以看見很多中國古代的東西。

Nǐ zhǐyào qù cānguān Gùgōng Bówùyuàn, jiù kěyǐ kànjiàn hěn duō Zhōngguó gǔdài de dōngxi.

If you visit the Palace Museum, you will see many things from ancient China.

5 你只要多喝水、多休息，感冒很快就會好了。

Nǐ zhǐyào duō hē shuǐ, duō xiūxí, gǎnmào hěn kuài jiù huì hǎo le.

As long as, i.e., if, you drink a lot of water and rest a lot, your cold will be OK very quickly. (i.e., Drink plenty of fluids and get plenty of rest and you’ll be over your cold very quickly.)

 

 

Structures 只要 is a (lexicalised) conjunction, which can appear before or after the subject. 就 is an adverb, and can only appear before a VP.

Questions：Only 是不是 can be used.

1 是不是只要他答應跟妳結婚，妳就願意留在臺灣？

Shìbúshì zhǐyào tā dāyìng gēn nǐ jiéhūn, nǎi jiù yuànyì liú zài Táiwān?

As long as he agrees to marry you, you would be willing to stay in Taiwan, right?

2 你是不是只要到一個新環境，就很容易感冒？

Nǐ shìbúshì zhǐyào dào yí ge xīn huánjìng, jiù hěn róngyì gǎnmào?

If you go to a new environment, you catch cold easily, right? (i.e., Whenever you change environments or go to a new place, you catch cold easily, right?)

3 是不是只要房東同意房租少一點，你就不搬家了？

Shìbúshì zhǐyào fángdōng tóngyì fángzū shǎo yìdiǎn, nǐ jiù bù bānjiā le?

As long as the landlord agrees to lower the rent a bit, you won’t move out, right?