Mandarin Grammar Point
只有...才... (zhǐyǒu... cái...) - Only if... then...

只有...才... (zhǐyǒu... cái...) - Only if... then...

Short explanation:

Used to express that 'only if' a certain condition is fulfilled, 'then' a certain result follows.

Formation:

'只有' + Condition + '才' + Result

Examples:

只有通过努力学习,才能通过HSK考试。
Zhǐyǒu tōngguò nǔlì xuéxí, cái néng tōngguò HSK kǎoshì.
Only if you study hard, then you can pass the HSK exam.
只有当你失去了一切,你才会明白什么是最重要的。
Zhǐyǒu dāng nǐ shīqùle yīqiè, nǐ cái huì míngbái shénme shì zuì zhòngyào de.
Only if you lose everything, then you will understand what is the most important.
只有把手机关掉,他才能专注于学习。
Zhǐyǒu bǎ shǒujī guān diào, tā cái néng zhuānzhù yú xuéxí.
Only if he turns off his phone, then he can focus on studying.
只有预先订票,你才能保证有位子。
Zhǐyǒu yùxiān dìngpiào, nǐ cái néng bǎozhèng yǒu wèizi.
Only if you book in advance, then you can ensure there are seats.

Long explanation:

The Mandarin Chinese structure '只有...才...' (zhǐyǒu... cái...) is used to convey the expression 'only if... then...'. It sets up a cause-effect relationship between two situations, where the effect (the second clause following '才') only happens under the specific condition stated in the cause part (the first clause following '只有').
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