Help needed with 才 sentence (npcr 3)

[Ludens]

I'm not sure how to translate the following sentence(s):

他们怎样才会得到好的成绩？

（他们只要认真准备，就会得到好的成绩。）

My best try is: How can they achieve good results? (As long as they prepare seriously, they will achieve good results.)

Any advice on understanding this sentence, and especially the use of 才 would be helpful!

[creamyhorror]

1. 他们怎样才会得到好的成绩？

= [They] [(doing) how] [(only) then] [will] [obtain] [good] [results]?

= What must they do to obtain good results? / Exactly how can they achieve good results?

In this usage, 才 means "only then", and goes after the subject of the second action phrase.

Structure: [action phrase] 才 [result / second action phrase]

Examples:

你多跑步才能减肥 = You run more - only then can [you] lose weight = You [have to] run more in order to lose weight.

这样做才行 = Do it this way - only then is it fine = You have to do it this way

你先等到水开后才放下面条 = You [have to] wait until the the water boils - only then do [you] put the noodles in = You have to wait for the water to boil before you put the noodles in

飞机起飞后，你才能开手机 = After the plane takes off, only then can you turn your phone on = You can only turn your phone on after the plane takes off (* notice the placement of 才 after 你)

2. （他们只要认真准备，就会得到好的成绩。）

= (As long as they prepare seriously, they will achieve good results.) (your translation)

只要 . . . 就 . . . = if only / so long as [condition], then [result]

Your translations are good.

edit: Incorporated roddy's suggestion

[Ludens]

Creamyhorror, thanks for your comprehensive reply!!

I guess my confusion comes from the fact that the "then" meaning of 才 seems to be lost in translation to English with this sentence (What must they do to obtain good results? / How can they achieve good results?)

Would it be possible to drop 才 altogether in this sentence, resulting in 他们怎样会得到好的成绩？ If possible, what's the difference between the two sentences? If not, why not?

[creamyhorror]

I guess my confusion comes from the fact that the "then" meaning of 才 seems to be lost in translation to English with this sentence (What must they do to obtain good results? / How can they achieve good results?)

Would it be possible to drop 才 altogether in this sentence, resulting in 他们怎样会得到好的成绩？ IIf possible, what's the difference between the two sentences? If not, why not?

Nope, that wouldn't be quite the same. The sentence without 才 actually sounds a little strange to me.

他们会得到好的成绩 = They will achieve good results

他们怎样会得到好的成绩？ = How (by what means) will they achieve good results? (i.e., how will they get good results, assuming that they do?)

Also, note that 怎么 cannot be substituted for 怎样 here, because 怎么 expresses doubt:

他们怎么会得到好的成绩？ = How come they [managed to] obtain good grades? / How are they supposed to obtain good grades?

Finally, there's an implicit 做 in the original sentence:

[他们怎样（做）] [才] [会得到好的成绩] ？ = [How must they (do things)] [only then] [will they achieve good results]? = What must they do to achieve good results?

I hope that clarifies things a little.

[roddy]

Could you translate it as 'Just how' or 'Exactly how' to get across the idea of 'then and only then'?

[Ludens]

I hope that clarifies things a little.

It really does! Posts like these make this forum invaluable... Thanks again.

[creamyhorror]

No problem, glad to help!

[renshanrenhai]

I can't help appreciating that Creamyhorror has made a wonderful and insightful analysis.

[creamyhorror]

你真的过奖了 谢谢你