只要你努力，就一定能学好 As long as you work hard, you’ll learn it — HSK 3, lesson 19

Dialogues

Choosing a course

A

下个学期你选什么课？

Xià ge xuéqī nǐ xuǎn shénme kè?

Which course are you choosing next term?

B

我还没决定，历史或者文化。你说呢？

Wǒ hái méi juédìng, lìshǐ huòzhě wénhuà. Nǐ shuō ne?

I haven’t decided yet — history or culture. What do you think?

A

只要你感兴趣，就选吧。

Zhǐyào nǐ gǎn xìngqù, jiù xuǎn ba.

As long as you’re interested, go for it.

B

可是历史课要求很高，只有认真学，才能考好。

Kěshì lìshǐ kè yāoqiú hěn gāo, zhǐyǒu rènzhēn xué, cái néng kǎohǎo.

But the history course is demanding — you only pass if you study seriously.

A

你愿意的话，咱们可以一块儿上课。

Nǐ yuànyì dehuà, zánmen kěyǐ yíkuàir shàngkè.

If you like, we can take the class together.

B

太好了！这是个好机会。

Tài hǎo le! Zhè shì ge hǎo jīhuì.

Great! That’s a good opportunity.

At the cinema

A

最近电影票怎么这么贵？

Zuìjìn diànyǐng piào zěnme zhème guì?

Why are cinema tickets so expensive lately?

B

只是周末贵，工作日便宜。十二岁以下的孩子不需要买票。

Zhǐshì zhōumò guì, gōngzuòrì piányi. Shí’èr suì yǐxià de háizi bù xūyào mǎi piào.

They’re only expensive at weekends — cheaper on weekdays. Children under twelve don’t need a ticket.

A

那我们星期三去吧。你想看什么？

Nà wǒmen xīngqīsān qù ba. Nǐ xiǎng kàn shénme?

Then let’s go on Wednesday. What do you want to see?

B

什么都行，你选吧。

Shénme dōu xíng, nǐ xuǎn ba.

Anything’s fine — you choose.

New words

只要zhǐyàoso long as; provided; if
只有zhǐyǒuonly (if)
或者huòzhěor; possibly; maybe; perhaps
或huòmaybe; perhaps; might
选xuǎnto choose; to pick; to select
选择xuǎnzéto select; to pick; choice; option; alternative
需要xūyàoto need; to want; to demand; to require
要求yāoqiúto request; to require; requirement
机会jīhuìopportunity; chance; occasion
愿意yuànyìto wish; to want; ready
可kě(prefix) can; may; able to; -able
可是kěshìbut
只是zhǐshìjust, only
直到zhídàountil
以上yǐshàngabove, over
以下yǐxiàbelow, under
以外yǐwàibesides, outside
最后zuìhòufinal; last; ultimate
最近zuìjìnrecently; soon; nearest
一块儿yíkuàirtogether
常chángalways; ever; often
不同bù tóngdifferent; distinct; not the same
不行bùxíngwon't do; be out of the question; be no good
不见bújiànbe gone; not see

📝 Worksheet for this lesson

Grammar

1. 只要…就… — “as long as…”

A sufficient condition: meet it and the result follows. 只要你努力，就一定能学好 “as long as you work hard, you’ll learn it”, 只要有时间，我就去 “as long as I have time, I’ll go”.

只要有时间，我就去。

Zhǐyào yǒu shíjiān, wǒ jiù qù.

As long as I have time, I’ll go.

2. 只有…才… — “only if…”

The only, necessary condition: without it there is no result. 只有认真学，才能考好 “only if you study seriously will you pass”. Compare: 只要 — “that’s enough”, 只有 — “nothing else will do”. After 只有 the second part takes 才, not 就.

只有多练习，才能说得好。

Zhǐyǒu duō liànxí, cái néng shuō de hǎo.

Only with lots of practice can you speak well.

3. 或者 and 还是 — two kinds of “or”

In a choice question use 还是: 你喝茶还是喝咖啡？ In statements use 或者 (written 或): 历史或者文化，都可以 “history or culture — either is fine”, 星期六或者星期天去. 或者…或者… means “either… or…”.

我们星期六或者星期天去。

Wǒmen xīngqīliù huòzhě xīngqītiān qù.

We’ll go on Saturday or Sunday.

4. 什么都, 谁都, 哪儿都 — “anything, anyone”

Question word + 都 / 也 means “any, all”: 什么都行 “anything’s fine”, 谁都知道 “everyone knows”, 哪儿都不想去 “I don’t want to go anywhere”. Two matching question words mean “whoever… they…”: 谁想去谁去 “whoever wants to go can go”, 你想吃什么就吃什么. Also “something”: 我想吃点儿什么 “I fancy something to eat”.

什么都行，你选吧。

Shénme dōu xíng, nǐ xuǎn ba.

Anything’s fine — you choose.

你想吃什么就吃什么。

Nǐ xiǎng chī shénme jiù chī shénme.

Eat whatever you like.

5. 以上, 以下, 以外; 只是, 直到, 可

以上 “above, over” and 以下 “below, under”: 十八岁以上 “over 18”, 十二岁以下. 以外 “besides, outside”: 除了…以外. 只是 means “only, just”: 只是周末贵. 直到 means “right up until”: 直到十点他才来. 可 is an intensifier: 这个可好吃了! “this is really tasty!”.

十二岁以下的孩子不需要买票。

Shí’èr suì yǐxià de háizi bù xūyào mǎi piào.

Children under twelve don’t need a ticket.

直到十点他才来。

Zhídào shí diǎn tā cái lái.

He didn’t come until ten.

Exercises

1. Listen and choose the translation

Answer
只要有时间，我就去。 Zhǐyào yǒu shíjiān, wǒ jiù qù. — As long as I have time, I’ll go.
Answer
什么都行。 Shénme dōu xíng. — Anything’s fine.
Answer
我们星期六或者星期天去。 Wǒmen xīngqīliù huòzhě xīngqītiān qù. — We’ll go on Saturday or Sunday.
Answer
只有多练习，才能说得好。 Zhǐyǒu duō liànxí, cái néng shuō de hǎo. — Only with lots of practice can you speak well.

2. Choose the correct option

只要你努力，___一定能学好。
Answer
就
只有认真学，___能考好。
Answer
才
“Tea or coffee?”
Answer
你喝茶还是喝咖啡？
“Everyone knows”: 谁___知道。
Answer
都

3. Build the sentence

As long as I have time, I’ll go.
Answer
只要有时间，我就去。 Zhǐyào yǒu shíjiān, wǒ jiù qù.
Only with lots of practice can you speak well.
Answer
只有多练习，才能说得好。 Zhǐyǒu duō liànxí, cái néng shuō de hǎo.
Anything’s fine — you choose.
Answer
什么都行，你选吧。 Shénme dōu xíng, nǐ xuǎn ba.
Eat whatever you like.
Answer
你想吃什么就吃什么。 Nǐ xiǎng chī shénme jiù chī shénme.

4. Dialogue: answer as the speaker

You are speaker B. Pick the right reply and the conversation goes on.

A

周末咱们去哪儿玩儿？

Zhōumò zánmen qù nǎr wánr?

Where shall we go at the weekend?

B

哪儿都行，你选吧。

Nǎr dōu xíng, nǐ xuǎn ba.

Anywhere’s fine — you choose.

A

去爬山或者去公园，你觉得呢？

Qù pá shān huòzhě qù gōngyuán, nǐ juéde ne?

Hiking or the park — what do you think?

B

只要天气好，去爬山吧。

Zhǐyào tiānqì hǎo, qù pá shān ba.

As long as the weather’s good, let’s go hiking.

A

如果下雨呢？

Rúguǒ xià yǔ ne?

And if it rains?

B

那就在家看电影，或者一块儿做饭。

Nà jiù zài jiā kàn diànyǐng, huòzhě yíkuàir zuò fàn.

Then we’ll watch a film at home or cook together.

5. Translate into Chinese

As long as you speak a lot, you’ll learn Chinese.
Answer
只要多说，你就一定能学好汉语。
Only if you get up early will you catch the train.
Answer
只有早点儿起床，才能坐上火车。
We’ll go on Saturday or Sunday.
Answer
我们星期六或者星期天去。

💡 Did you know?: The “iron rice bowl”

铁饭碗 tiěfànwǎn, the “iron rice bowl”, means a secure job for life, usually in the state sector. Many Chinese parents still advise their children to choose such a job, while young people increasingly join private companies or start their own businesses.