“As long as” in Chinese – zhǐyào

Grammar Point:
The term “as long as” can be translated to 只要 zhǐyào in Chinese. It is commonly used to express a condition or requirement that needs to be met for something to happen or be true.

Structure

只要 + condition + 就 + result

• 就 jiù showing the condition

只要zhǐyào你nǐ在zài我wǒ身邊shēnbiān， 我wǒ就jiù會huì很hěn開心kāixīn只要zhǐyào你nǐ在zài我wǒ身边shēnbiān， 我wǒ就jiù会huì很hěn开心kāixīn
As long as you’re by my side, I will be very happy.

我wǒ沒有méiyǒu很hěn大dà的de夢想mèngxiǎng， 只要zhǐyào有yǒu工作gōngzuò就jiù好hǎo了le我wǒ没有méiyǒu很hěn大dà的de夢想mèngxiǎng， 只要zhǐyào有yǒu工作gōngzuò就jiù好hǎo了le
I don’t have big dreams, as long as I have a job, it’s good enough.

只要zhǐyào你nǐ喜歡xǐhuān， 一切yíqiè都dōu值得zhídé只要zhǐyào你nǐ喜欢xǐhuan， 一切yíqiè都dōu值得zhídé
As long as you’re happy, everything is worthwhile.

只要zhǐyào運費yùnfèi不bù超過chāoguò100 ， 就jiù沒問題méiwèntí只要zhǐyào运费yùnfèi不bù超过chāoguò100 ， 就jiù没问题méiwèntí
As long as the shipping fee doesn’t exceed 100, it’s fine.

只要zhǐyào老闆lǎobǎn不bù知道zhīdào， 我們wǒmen怎麼zěnme做zuò都dōu可以kěyǐ只要zhǐyào老板lǎobǎn不bù知道zhīdào， 我们wǒmen怎么zěnme做zuò都dōu可以kěyǐ
As long as the boss doesn’t know, we can do whatever we want.

只要 zhǐyào can also mean “only need”

只要zhǐyào給gěi我wǒ100 塊kuài， 我wǒ就jiù幫bāng你nǐ忙máng只要zhǐyào给gěi我wǒ100 块kuài， 我wǒ就jiù帮bāng你nǐ忙máng
Only need to give me 100 dollars, I’ll help you out.

只要zhǐyào一年yìnián， 我wǒ就jiù可以kěyǐ讓ràng你nǐ會huì說shuō中文zhōngwén只要zhǐyào一年yìnián， 我wǒ就jiù可以kěyǐ让ràng你nǐ会huì说shuō中文zhōngwén
Only need one year, I can make you fluent in Chinese.

只要zhǐyào有yǒu一個人yígerén沒méi到dào， 我們wǒmen就jiù不能bùnéng進jìn餐廳cāntīng只要zhǐyào有yǒu一个人yígerén没méi到dào， 我们wǒmen就jiù不能bùnéng进jìn餐厅cāntīng
If even one person is missing, we can’t enter the restaurant.

FYI
In Taiwan, it’s quite popular to make advance reservations at restaurants before dining. This is because some restaurants are often very busy, and reserving a table ahead of time ensures that you have a seat. Many restaurants have a grace period of around 10 minutes, during which they wait for all the reserved guests to arrive. If all the expected guests don’t arrive within this time frame, the reservation may be canceled. Even if just one person is missing, the restaurant usually doesn’t allow others to be seated, as they have strict reservation policies to ensure fairness to every customer.
If you’re planning to dine at a popular restaurant, I recommend calling ahead or making an online reservation to secure your opportunity to dine and comply with the restaurant’s reservation requirements.”

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ As long as you don’t say it, no one will know.

只要zhǐyào你nǐ不bù說shuō， 沒méi人rén會huì知道zhīdào只要zhǐyào你nǐ不bù说shuō， 没méi人rén会huì知道zhīdào

✔️ As long as we don’t give up, there will always be a chance.

只要zhǐyào我們wǒmen不bú放棄fàngqì， 就jiù一定yídìng有yǒu機會jīhuì只要zhǐyào我们wǒmen不bú放弃fàngqì， 就jiù一定yídìng有yǒu机会jīhuì

✔️ As long as it doesn’t rain, our event won’t be canceled.

只要zhǐyào不bú下雨xiàyǔ， 我們wǒmen的de活動huódòng就jiù不bú會huì取消qǔxiāo只要zhǐyào不bú下雨xiàyǔ， 我们wǒmen的de活动huódòng就jiù不bú会huì取消qǔxiāo