Formal “Only Then / Only By” with “fāng”
方 / 方才 / 方能
How it works
In formal writing, 方 (fāng) and compounds such as 方能 (fāngnéng) can mean ‘only then’ or ‘only by doing so.’ 方才 (fāngcái) may share this function in formal contexts, although it also commonly means ‘just now.’
These forms are more literary than ordinary 才 (cái) and often appear in formal argument or polished prose.
Example sentences
唯有真正理解现实的复杂性，方能在判断问题时保持必要的清醒。
Only by truly understanding the complexity of reality can one maintain the necessary clarity when judging problems.
直到所有证据都摆在面前，他方才承认自己原来的判断过于武断。
Only when all the evidence was laid out before him did he finally admit that his original judgment had been too arbitrary.
事情发展到这一步，我们方意识到问题远比最初设想得严重。
Only when matters developed to this stage did we realize that the problem was far more serious than first imagined.
Key point
These forms are more formal and literary than ordinary 才 (cái), but they express similar logical meaning of “only then.”