The word 只有 is formed through the conceptual combination of its two constituent characters: 只, which carries an inherent meaning of singularity, exclusivity, or limitation (historically picturing a bird held in the hand), and 有, which fundamentally means possession, existence, or "to have". Their fusion creates a unified idea where the notion of limitation (只) is applied directly to the state of existence or possession (有), resulting in the core meaning of "only if there is" or "solely in the case where something exists", thereby expressing an exclusive condition or a solitary necessity.