Difference between revisions of "Expressing "only" with "zhi""

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* <em>只</em> <span class="pinyin"><em>zhǐ</em>. </span><span class="trans">only</span>
+
* <em>只</em> 有 一 个 哥哥。<span class="pinyin"><em>zhǐ</em> yǒu yī gè gēge. </span><span class="trans">I only have one elder brother. </span>
* <em>只</em> <span class="pinyin"><em>zhǐ</em>. </span><span class="trans">only</span>
+
* 我们 <em>只</em> 有 十块 钱。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>zhǐ</em> yǒu shí kuài qián. </span><span class="trans">We only have ten kuai RMB. </span>
* <em>只</em> <span class="pinyin"><em>zhǐ</em>. </span><span class="trans">only</span>
+
* <em>只</em> 是 学生 吗?<span class="pinyin"><em>zhǐ</em> shì xuéshēng ma? </span><span class="trans">Are you just a student? </span>
* <em>只</em> <span class="pinyin"><em>zhǐ</em>. </span><span class="trans">only</span>
+
* 我们公司 <em>只</em> 有 两个员工。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen gōngsī <em>zhǐ</em> yǒu liǎng gè yuángōng. </span><span class="trans">Our company only has two employees. </span>
* <em>只</em> <span class="pinyin"><em>zhǐ</em>. </span><span class="trans">only</span>
+
* 他们 <em>只</em> 会 说 英文。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen <em>zhǐ</em> huì shuō Yīngwén. </span><span class="trans">They can only speak English.</span>
* <em>只</em> <span class="pinyin"><em>zhǐ</em>. </span><span class="trans">only</span>
+
* <em>只</em> 能 说 两 句 中文。<span class="pinyin"><em>zhǐ</em> néng shuō liǎng jù Zhōngwén. </span><span class="trans">I can only say two sentences in Chinese. </span>
* <em>只</em> <span class="pinyin"><em>zhǐ</em>. </span><span class="trans">only</span>
+
* 你们 <em>只</em> 要 咖啡 吗?<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen <em>zhǐ</em> yào kāfēi ma? </span><span class="trans">Do you only want coffee? </span>
* <em>只</em> <span class="pinyin"><em>zhǐ</em>. </span><span class="trans">only</span>
+
* 我老婆 <em>只</em> 想 要 一个 孩子。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ lǎopo <em>zhǐ</em> xiǎng yào yī gè hāizi. </span><span class="trans">My wife only wants to have one child.</span>
* <em>只</em> <span class="pinyin"><em>zhǐ</em>. </span><span class="trans">only</span>
+
* 宝宝 <em>只</em> 会 爬,不 会 走。<span class="pinyin">Bǎobao
* <em>只</em> <span class="pinyin"><em>zhǐ</em>. </span><span class="trans">only</span>
+
<em>zhǐ</em> huì pá, bù huì zǒu. </span><span class="trans">The baby can only crawl. He can't walk.</span>
 +
* <em>只</em> 想 跟 你 在 一起。<span class="pinyin"><em>zhǐ</em> xiǎng gēn nǐ zài yīqǐ. </span><span class="trans">I only want to be with you. </span>
  
 
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== See also ==
 
== See also ==

Revision as of 02:55, 23 November 2015

Chinese-grammar-wiki-zhi.jpg

There are a number of different ways to express "only" in Chinese, but 只 (zhǐ) is the most basic one you need to learn first! It's an adverb, so it normally comes before verbs.

Structure

The adverb 只 (zhǐ) can come directly before a verb, or before an auxiliary verb like 会 (huì) or 能 (néng).

只 + Verb

只 + Aux. Verb (+ Verb)

Examples

  • 有 一 个 哥哥。zhǐ yǒu yī gè gēge. I only have one elder brother.
  • 我们 有 十块 钱。Wǒmen zhǐ yǒu shí kuài qián. We only have ten kuai RMB.
  • 是 学生 吗?zhǐ shì xuéshēng ma? Are you just a student?
  • 我们公司 有 两个员工。Wǒmen gōngsī zhǐ yǒu liǎng gè yuángōng. Our company only has two employees.
  • 他们 会 说 英文。Tāmen zhǐ huì shuō Yīngwén. They can only speak English.
  • 能 说 两 句 中文。zhǐ néng shuō liǎng jù Zhōngwén. I can only say two sentences in Chinese.
  • 你们 要 咖啡 吗?Nǐmen zhǐ yào kāfēi ma? Do you only want coffee?
  • 我老婆 想 要 一个 孩子。Wǒ lǎopo zhǐ xiǎng yào yī gè hāizi. My wife only wants to have one child.
  • 宝宝 会 爬,不 会 走。Bǎobao

zhǐ huì pá, bù huì zǒu. The baby can only crawl. He can't walk.

  • 想 跟 你 在 一起。zhǐ xiǎng gēn nǐ zài yīqǐ. I only want to be with you.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books