<p>When not used in precision condition, they are very close. But for those of very strict documents, like business contract, legal documents, and academic papers, they are different. 只要 means sufficient condition， while 如果 means a general one.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-17T04:27:32.637Z
sufficient condition 充分条件
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-17T04:11:32.783Z
2016-03-17T04:11:32.783Z
gcd0318
<p>Short answer:<br>
如果 - if<br>
只要 - as long as</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-16T14:20:11.423Z
Not true. "Only if" means 只有.
Stan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-16T15:36:32.137Z
@Stan You're right. I've fixed it. Thx.
Enrico Brasil
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-16T12:43:21.553Z
2016-03-16T15:36:00.667Z
2016-03-16T15:36:00.667Z
Enrico Brasil
<p>What is the difference between these two sentences?</p>
<blockquote>
<p>只要明天不下雨，我们就去爬山。</p>
<p>如果明天不下雨，我们就去爬山。</p>
</blockquote>
<p>They seem very close in meaning.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-06T10:40:57.217Z
如果（要是，倘若，。。。的话）：if; 只要：iciba：so long as; provided; if only; so as；dict。cn：if only，so long as，once，so as，so far as，as long as 表示＂有了这个条件才有后面的结果＂ （this condition has the following consequence)(more "emphatic" than just "if")
user6065
<usage><difference>
What is the difference between 只要 and 如果?
# What is the difference between 只要 and 如果?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-03-06)

What is the difference between these two sentences?

> 只要明天不下雨，我们就去爬山。
>
> 如果明天不下雨，我们就去爬山。

They seem very close in meaning.

**Tags:** usage, difference
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: 如果（要是，倘若，。。。的话）：if; 只要：iciba：so long as; provided; if only; so as；dict。cn：if only，so long as，once，so as，so far as，as long as 表示＂有了这个条件才有后面的结果＂ （this condition has the following consequence)(more "emphatic" than just "if")  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-03-17. Score: 1

When not used in precision condition, they are very close. But for those of very strict documents, like business contract, legal documents, and academic papers, they are different. 只要 means sufficient condition， while 如果 means a general one.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: sufficient condition 充分条件  

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### Answer by username_3 on 2016-03-16. Score: 0

Short answer:  
如果 - if  
只要 - as long as

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: Not true. "Only if" means 只有.  
> **username_3**: @Stan You're right. I've fixed it. Thx.  

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