“That’s all” in Chinese – 而已 éryǐ

Grammar Point:
In Chinese, 而已 éryǐ is used to indicate limitation or emphasize that something is just what it is and nothing more. It’s similar to saying “that’s all,” “just,” or “nothing more” in English. It’s often placed at the end of a sentence to downplay or clarify the significance of something.

Structure

Statement + 而已 éryǐ

而已 éryǐ often follows words like 只 zhǐ (just; only), 才 cái (only,) or 不過过 búguò (only) to emphasize that something is minor or insignificant. It also makes the statement sound less important or less serious.

我wǒ只是zhǐshì開玩笑kāiwánxiào而已éryǐ我wǒ只是zhǐshì开玩笑kāiwánxiào而已éryǐ
I was just joking, that’s all.

我wǒ不過búguò是shì說shuō說shuō而已éryǐ， 你nǐ不要búyào那麼nàme認真rènzhēn啦la我wǒ不过búguò是shì说shuō说shuō而已éryǐ， 你nǐ不要búyào那么nàme认真rènzhēn啦la
I was just saying, that’s all, don’t take it so seriously.

她tā才cái四sì歲suì而已éryǐ， 怎麼zěnme可能kěnéng懂dǒng什麼shénme能néng做zuò什麼shénme不能bùnéng做zuò她tā才cái四sì岁suì而已éryǐ， 怎么zěnme可能kěnéng懂dǒng什么shénme能néng做zuò什么shénme不能bùnéng做zuò
She’s only four years old, how could she possibly know what she can and can’t do?

你nǐ不要búyào對duì我wǒ期望qíwàng太高tàigāo， 我wǒ只zhǐ學xué了le三sān個ge月yuè中文zhōngwén而已éryǐ你nǐ不要búyào对duì我wǒ期望qīwàng太高tàigāo， 我wǒ只zhǐ学xué了le三sān个ge月yuè中文zhōngwén而已éryǐ
Don’t expect too much from me, I’ve only been learning Chinese for three months, that’s all.

我wǒ沒有méiyǒu心情xīnqíng不好bùhǎo， 只zhǐ是shì有點yǒudiǎn累lèi而已éryǐ我wǒ没有méiyǒu心情xīnqíng不好bùhǎo， 只zhǐ是shì有点yǒudiǎn累lèi而已éryǐ
I’m not in a bad mood, I’m just a little tired.

這zhè不過búguò是shì個ge小xiǎo問題wèntí而已éryǐ， 你nǐ別bié擔心dānxīn这zhè不过búguò是shì个ge小xiǎo问题wèntí而已éryǐ， 你nǐ别bié担心dānxīn
It’s just a small problem, don’t worry.

你nǐ中文zhōngwén學xué不好bùhǎo， 我wǒ不會búhuì生氣shēngqì， 只是zhǐshì有點yǒudiǎn失望shīwàng而已éryǐ你nǐ中文zhōngwén学xué不好bùhǎo， 我wǒ不会búhuì生气shēngqì， 只是zhǐshì有点yǒudiǎn失望shīwàng而已éryǐ
I won’t be mad if your Chinese doesn’t improve, just a little disappointed, that’s all.

With 而已 éryǐ & Without 而已 éryǐ

Adding 而已 éryǐ  implies that the speaker is emphasizing something as being minor, unimportant, or the only thing involved. Without 而已 éryǐ , the statement is more neutral or direct.

我wǒ只是zhǐshì開玩笑kāiwánxiào而已éryǐ我wǒ只是zhǐshì开玩笑kāiwánxiào而已éryǐ
I was just joking, that’s all.
(Emphasizing that it was nothing serious, just a joke.)

我wǒ只是zhǐshì開玩笑kāiwánxiào我wǒ只是zhǐshì开玩笑kāiwánxiào
I was just joking.
(Still a joke, but more neutral and straightforward without the extra downplaying.)

我wǒ只zhǐ學xué了le三sān個ge月yuè中文zhōngwén而已éryǐ我wǒ只zhǐ学xué了le三sān个ge月yuè中文zhōngwén而已éryǐ
I’ve only been learning Chinese for three months, that’s all.
(3 months of learning is not important, suggesting it’s not a long time.)

我wǒ只zhǐ學xué了le三sān個ge月yuè中文zhōngwén我wǒ只zhǐ学xué了le三sān个ge月yuè中文zhōngwén
I’ve only been learning Chinese for three months.
(Simple fact, without any suggestions.)

• To See More Different Functions About 而 ér