“Only” in Chinese 2

Grammar Point:
In Chinese, “only” can be translated using different words depending on the context. Two common translations for “only” are 光 guāng and 僅僅仅仅 jǐnjǐn.

Structure

S + guāng + V + O or Complement

It can be used in both formal and casual situations.

他tā光guāng吃chī肉ròu， 一點yìdiǎn蔬菜shūcài也yě不吃bùchī他tā光guāng吃chī肉ròu， 一点yìdiǎn蔬菜shūcài也yě不吃bùchī
He only eats meat, he doesn’t eat any vegetables.

別bié光guāng說shuō不bú做zuò别bié光guāng说shuō不bú做zuò
Don’t just talk, take action.

我wǒ光guāng買mǎi這zhè輛liàng車chē就jiù用完yòngwán我wǒ全部quánbù的de錢qián了le我wǒ光guāng买mǎi这zhè辆liàng车chē就jiù用完yòngwán我wǒ全部quánbù的de钱qián了le
I’ll use up all my money just by buying this car.

你nǐ光guāng吃chī這zhè碗wǎn飯fàn能néng飽bǎo嗎ma？ 你nǐ光guāng吃chī这zhè碗wǎn饭fàn能néng饱bǎo吗ma？
Will you be full by just eating this bowl of rice?

他tā光guāng是shì學xué中文zhōngwén就jiù很hěn頭痛tóutòng了le， 你nǐ還hái要yào他tā學xué日文rìwén他tā光guāng是shì学xué中文zhōngwén就jiù很hěn头痛tóutòng了le， 你nǐ还hái要yào他tā学xué日文rìwén
Learning Chinese alone is already quite challenging for him, and you’re suggesting he should also learn Japanese?

這zhè份fèn報告bàogào光guāng解釋jiěshì了le問題wèntí， 沒有méiyǒu提供tígōng解決jiějué方法fāngfǎ这zhè份fèn报告bàogào光guāng解释jiěshì了le问题wèntí， 没有méiyǒu提供tígōng解决jiějué方法fāngfǎ
This report only explains the problems without providing solutions.

S + jǐnjǐn + V/Adj + O or Complement

It is usually used in formal situations.

這zhè次cì會議huìyì僅僅jǐnjǐn討論tǎolùn了le其中qízhōng的de一個yíge問題wèntí这zhè次cì会议huìyì仅仅jǐnjǐn讨论tǎolùn了le其中qízhōng的de一个yíge问题wèntí
The meeting only discussed one of the issues.

雖然suīrán他tā僅僅jǐnjǐn是shì一個yíge實習生shíxíshēng， 可是kěshì常常chángcháng給gěi我們wǒmen很hěn棒bàng的de想法xiǎngfǎ虽然suīrán他tā仅仅jǐnjǐn是shì一个yíge实习生shíxíshēng， 可是kěshì常常chángcháng给gěi我们wǒmen很hěn棒bàng的de想法xiǎngfǎ
Even though he’s just an intern, he often comes up with great ideas for us.

這zhè不bù僅僅jǐnjǐn是shì你nǐ個人gèrén的de問題wèntí这zhè不bù仅仅jǐnjǐn是shì你nǐ个人gèrén的de问题wèntí
This is not only your personal problem.

這個zhège團隊tuánduì僅僅jǐnjǐn由yóu三個sānge人rén組成zǔchéng卻què做zuò出chū了le十個shíge人rén的de結果jiéguǒ这个zhège团队tuánduì仅仅jǐnjǐn由yóu三个sānge人rén组成zǔchéng却què做zuò出chū了le十个shíge人rén的de结果jiéguǒ
This team, consisting of only three people, achieved results equivalent to that of ten people.

他tā竟然jìngrán在zài僅僅jǐnjǐn1 年nián中zhōng氣qì走zǒu了le3 位wèi秘書mìshū他tā竟然jìngrán在zài仅仅jǐnjǐn1 年nián中zhōng气qì走zǒu了le3 位wèi秘书mìshū
Surprisingly, he went through three secretaries in just one year.

不+ jǐn or guāng ···，+ (而且) + 還/还

餃子jiǎozi， 我wǒ不僅bùjǐn吃chī過guò， 而且érqiě我wǒ還hái會huì做zuò呢ne饺子jiǎozi， 我wǒ不仅bùjǐn吃chī过guò， 而且érqiě我wǒ还hái会huì做zuò呢ne
Dumplings, not only have I eaten them, but I can also make them.

他tā不光bùguāng沒méi去qù上班shàngbān， 而且érqiě還hái偷tōu了le公司gōngsī的de錢qián他tā不光bùguāng没méi去qù上班shàngbān， 而且érqiě还hái偷tōu了le公司gōngsī的de钱qián
He not only didn’t go to work, but he also stole money from the company.

媽媽māma不僅bùjǐn會huì賺錢zhuànqián還hái很hěn會huì投資tóuzī妈妈māma不仅bùjǐn会huì挣钱zhèngqián还hái很hěn会huì投资tóuzī
My mom not only earns money but is also skilled at investing.

我wǒ不bù光guāng會huì做zuò川菜chuāncài還hái會huì做zuò湘菜xiāngcài我wǒ不bù光guāng会huì做zuò川菜chuāncài还hái会huì做zuò湘菜xiāngcài
I’m not only good at Sichuan cuisine, but also at Hunan cuisine.

FYI
Chinese cuisine is vast and profound. Due to differences in geography, climate, customs, and local specialties, a wide variety of dishes with distinct regional flavors and characteristics have been developed, along with corresponding cooking methods. This has given rise to various regional culinary styles, the most famous being the Eight Great Cuisines: Sichuan, Hunan, Cantonese, Fujian, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, and Shandong cuisines.🥘🥟

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ It’s impossible to learn a language well if you just read books without speaking.

你nǐ光guāng看書kànshū不bù說話shuōhuà是shì不可能bùkěnéng學xué好hǎo語言yǔyán的de你nǐ光guāng看书kànshū不bù说话shuōhuà是shì不可能bùkěnéng学xué好hǎo语言yǔyán的de

✔️ Just by listening to someone, how can you know if it’s true?

光guāng聽tīng一個人yígerén說shuō怎麼zěnme知道zhīdào是不是shìbúshì真的zhēnde光guāng听tīng一个人yígerén说shuō怎么zěnme知道zhīdào是不是shìbúshì真的zhēnde

✔️ I’ve gained 3 kilograms in just 5 days since I came to Taiwan.

我wǒ來lái台灣Táiwān僅僅jǐnjǐn5 天tiān就jiù胖pàng了le3 公斤gōngjīn我wǒ来lái台湾Táiwān仅仅jǐnjǐn5 天tiān就jiù胖pàng了le3 公斤gōngjīn

• “Only” in Chinese 1 – 只 zhǐ (HSK 2)
• To See More Different Functions About 而 ér