Only in Chinese

Grammar Point:
In Chinese, the word for “only” is 只 zhǐ. Unlike in English, you can place it in any part of the sentence to emphasize different parts. However, it always comes before verbs in Chinese.

Structure

只 + Verb

卡kǎ裡lǐ只zhǐ有yǒu兩百liǎngbǎi塊kuài錢qián卡kǎ里lǐ只zhǐ有yǒu两百liǎngbǎi块kuài钱qián
I only have 200 dollars in my card.

我wǒ今天jīntiān只zhǐ喝hē了le一杯yìbēi咖啡kāfēi我wǒ今天jīntiān只zhǐ喝hē了le一杯yìbēi咖啡kāfēi
I only had one cup of coffee today.

她tā只zhǐ想xiǎng去qù一個yíge沒人méirén的de地方dìfāng她tā只zhǐ想xiǎng去qù一个yíge没人méirén的de地方dìfang 🏝️
She just wants to go to a place where no one is around.

我wǒ只zhǐ愛ài你nǐ我wǒ只zhǐ爱ài你nǐ
I only love you.

我們wǒmen只zhǐ收shōu現金xiànjīn我们wǒmen只zhǐ收shōu现金xiànjīn
We only accept cash.

只 + Can + V

我wǒ只zhǐ會huì說shuō中文zhōngwén我wǒ只zhǐ会huì说shuō中文zhōngwén
I can only speak Chinese.

我wǒ只zhǐ能néng喝hē一杯yìbēi紅酒hóngjiǔ我wǒ只zhǐ能néng喝hē一杯yìbēi红酒hóngjiǔ
I can only have one glass of red wine.

她tā只zhǐ可以kěyǐ晚上wǎnshàng8 點diǎn後hòu見面jiànmiàn她tā只zhǐ可以kěyǐ晚上wǎnshang8 点diǎn后hòu见面jiànmiàn
She can only meet after 8 p.m.

• Different “can” in Chinese
  能 néng, 會会 huì, and 可以 kěyǐ

只 + 是 shì

If you want to link 只 zhǐ with nouns or adjectives, then you should use this pattern.

我wǒ只是zhǐshì一個yíge學生xuéshēng我wǒ只是zhǐshì一个yíge学生xuéshēng
I am just a student.

這zhè只是zhǐshì一個yíge誤會wùhuì这zhè只是zhǐshì一个yíge误会wùhuì
This is just a misunderstanding.

你nǐ只是zhǐshì感冒gǎnmào， 多duō休息xiūxí就jiù好hǎo你nǐ只是zhǐshì感冒gǎnmào， 多duō休息xiūxi就jiù好hǎo
You’re just having a cold, rest more and you’ll be fine.

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ I can only say two sentences in Chinese.

我wǒ只zhǐ會huì說shuō兩liǎng句jù中文zhōngwén我wǒ只zhǐ会huì说shuō两liǎng句jù中文zhōngwén

✔️ I’m just bored, so I came to take a look.

我wǒ只是zhǐshì無聊wúliáo， 所以suǒyǐ過guò來lái看看kànkàn我wǒ只是zhǐshì无聊wúliáo， 所以suǒyǐ过guò来lái看看kànkàn

✔️ I’m only available on Saturday.

我wǒ只zhǐ有yǒu禮拜六lǐbàiliù有空yǒukòng我wǒ只zhǐ有yǒu礼拜六lǐbàiliù有空yǒukòng

• “Only” in Chinese 2 – 光 guāng and 僅僅仅仅 jǐnjǐn (HSK 3)