只有 (zhǐyǒu) is an HSK 3 Chinese word. Its most common English meaning is only have ...; depending on context, it can also mean there is only ... or it is only if ... (that one can ...). Read the examples below to choose the meaning that fits the sentence.
01only have ...
02there is only ...
03it is only if ... (that one can ...)
04it is only (someone) who ...
02 · EXAMPLES
只有
只有你能保护他们。Zhǐ yǒu nǐ néng bǎo hù tā men。
You're the only one who can protect them.
汤姆说他以为需要做那件事的就只有他一个。Tāng mǔ shuō tā yǐ wéi xū yào zuò nà jiàn shì de jiù zhǐ yǒu tā yí gè。
Tom said he thought he might be the only one who had to do that.
他认为只有训练有素的演员才能够获得成功。Tā rèn wéi zhǐ yǒu xùn liàn yǒu sù de yǎn yuán cái néng gòu huò dé chéng gōng。
He thinks that only very well trained actors can be really successful.