Definition
只 (zhǐ) is the most common everyday adverb for 'only, just' — it directly limits the verb or phrase that follows. 只是 (zhǐ shì) is similar but can also mean 'but' as a conjunction; 仅/仅仅 (jǐn/jǐn jǐn) are more formal and used in written or emphatic contexts.
adverb
onlyjustmerely
Easily confused
- 趴pālook-aliketo lie on one's stomach or to lean forward with one's upper body resting on something (e.g., a table, bed, floor)
- 之zhīsound-alike(literary, possessive particle) equivalent to 的
- 其qílook-alike(possessive pronoun: his, her, its, their (used before a noun)
- 之zhīsound-alike(literary pronoun) him, her, it (used as object)
- 指zhǐsound-aliketo point at, to indicate, to show
- 支zhīsound-alikeclassifier for long, thin objects (pens, guns), army divisions, and songs/compositions
- 支zhīsound-aliketo prop up, to support
- 直zhísound-alike(adjective) straight; frank; fair
- 至zhìsound-alike(verb, literary) to arrive
- 值zhísound-alike(verb) to be worth
Examples
- 只。Wǒ zhǐ xǐhuān hē chá.I only like to drink tea.
- 只，。Tā zhǐ huì shuō Yīngyǔ, bú huì shuō Zhōngwén.He can only speak English, not Chinese.
- 。Zhèlǐ zhǐ yǒu yí gè shāngdiàn.There is only one shop here.
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