Only in Chinese 1 – 只 zhǐ &只是 zhǐshì

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Grammar · HSK 3
Grammar Point · HSK 3

“Only” in Chinese 1 — 只 zhǐ & 只是 zhǐshì

The basic word for “only” in Chinese is 只 zhǐ. Unlike English “only,” it always goes before the verb. To use it with a noun or an adjective, use 只是 zhǐshì.

只 zhǐ only in Chinese

只 zhǐ limits what comes after it: only this action, only this amount, only this thing. 只是 zhǐshì can also mean “it’s just that…” when you add a small “but” to a sentence.

1Structure

S + 只 zhǐ + V

卡kǎ里li只zhǐ有yǒu两百liǎngbǎi块kuài钱qián
There’s only 200 dollars on my card.
我wǒ今天jīntiān只zhǐ喝hē了le一yì杯bēi咖啡kāfēi
I only had one cup of coffee today.
她tā只zhǐ想xiǎng去qù一yí个ge沒méi人rén的de地方dìfang
She just wants to go somewhere with no one around. 🏝️
我wǒ只zhǐ爱ài你nǐ
I love only you.
我们wǒmen只zhǐ收shōu现金xiànjīn
We only accept cash.

S + 只 zhǐ + 能 néng / 会 huì / 可以 kěyǐ + V

With a modal verb (“can”), 只 zhǐ goes in front of it. 📚 Different “can” in Chinese: 能 néng, 会 huì & 可以 kěyǐ

我wǒ只zhǐ会huì说shuō中文zhōngwén
I can only speak Chinese.
我wǒ只zhǐ能néng喝hē一yì杯bēi红酒hóngjiǔ
I can only have one glass of red wine.
她tā只zhǐ可以kěyǐ晚上wǎnshang8bā点diǎn后hòu见面jiànmiàn
She can only meet after 8 p.m.
这zhè个ge房间fángjiān只zhǐ可以kěyǐ住zhù两liǎng个ge人rén
Only two people can stay in this room.

S + 只是 zhǐshì + N / Adj

只 zhǐ can’t go directly before a noun or an adjective. Add 是 shì: 只是 zhǐshì means “just, merely.”

我wǒ只是zhǐshì一yí个ge学生xuésheng
I’m just a student.
这zhè只是zhǐshì一yí个ge误会wùhuì
This is just a misunderstanding.
你nǐ只是zhǐshì感冒gǎnmào，多duō休息xiūxi就jiù好hǎo了le
It’s just a cold. Get some rest and you’ll be fine.
他tā只是zhǐshì有yǒu点diǎn累lèi，没事méishì
He’s just a bit tired. He’s fine.

Sentence 1，只是 zhǐshì + Sentence 2: “it’s just that…”

At the start of the second part of a sentence, 只是 zhǐshì works like a soft “but.” It adds a small problem or reservation to something mostly positive.

这zhè件jiàn衣服yīfu很hěn漂亮piàoliang，只是zhǐshì太tài贵guì了le
This top is really pretty. It’s just that it’s too expensive.
我wǒ很hěn想xiǎng去qù，只是zhǐshì没有méiyǒu时间shíjiān
I’d really like to go. It’s just that I don’t have time.
他tā人rén很hěn好hǎo，只是zhǐshì话huà有yǒu点diǎn多duō
He’s a really nice guy. He just talks a bit too much.
这zhè家jiā餐厅cāntīng的de菜cài很hěn好吃hǎochī，只是zhǐshì要yào等děng很hěn久jiǔ
The food at this restaurant is delicious. It’s just that you have to wait a long time.
📌 只 zhǐ vs. 就 jiù

Both can mean “only.” 只 zhǐ is neutral and precise. 就 jiù is more casual and adds a feeling of “that’s all, it’s not much.”

我wǒ只zhǐ去qù过guò一yí次cì
I’ve only been once. (a plain fact)
我wǒ就jiù去qù过guò一yí次cì
I’ve only been once. (that’s all, not much)

2Common Mistakes

❌ 我wǒ喝hē了le只zhǐ一yì杯bēi咖啡kāfēi
✅ 我wǒ只zhǐ喝hē了le一yì杯bēi咖啡kāfēi
In English, “only” can go right before the number. In Chinese, 只 zhǐ always goes before the verb.
❌ 我wǒ只zhǐ学生xuésheng
✅ 我wǒ只是zhǐshì学生xuésheng
只 zhǐ can’t go directly before a noun. You need 是 shì: 只是 zhǐshì.

3Practice

Translate each sentence into Chinese, then tap the card to check your answer.

01I can only say two sentences in Chinese.
我wǒ只zhǐ会huì说shuō两liǎng句jù中文zhōngwén。
👆 Tap to reveal
02I was just bored, so I came over to take a look.
我wǒ只是zhǐshì无聊wúliáo，所以suǒyǐ过guò来lai看看kànkan。
👆 Tap to reveal
03I’m only free on Saturday.
我wǒ只zhǐ有yǒu礼拜六lǐbàiliù有空yǒukòng。
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04He only eats vegetables, not meat.
他tā只zhǐ吃chī蔬菜shūcài，不bù吃chī肉ròu。
👆 Tap to reveal
05You can only take one photo.
你nǐ只zhǐ能néng拍pāi一yì张zhāng照片zhàopiàn。
👆 Tap to reveal
06It’s just a small problem.
这zhè只是zhǐshì一yí个ge小xiǎo问题wèntí。
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07The house is big. It’s just that it’s a little far.
房子fángzi很hěn大dà，只是zhǐshì有yǒu点diǎn远yuǎn。
👆 Tap to reveal
08I only have one sister.
我wǒ只zhǐ有yǒu一yí个ge妹妹mèimei。
👆 Tap to reveal

Related Grammar

→“Only” in Chinese 2 — 光 guāng & 仅仅 jǐnjǐn(HSK 4) →“Only” — 就 jiù(HSK 3)

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