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

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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 [[verb]]s.
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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 [[verb]]s.
  
 
== Structure ==
 
== Structure ==
  
The adverb 只 (zhǐ) can come directly before a [[verb]], or before an [[auxiliary verb]] like 会 (huì) or 能 (néng).
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The adverb 只 (zhǐ) can come directly before a [[verb]], or before an [[auxiliary verb]] like [[]] (huì) or [[]] (néng).
  
 
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Revision as of 04:06, 19 March 2016

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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 (huì) or (néng).

只 + Verb

只 + Aux. Verb (+ Verb)

Examples

  • 有 一 个 哥哥。zhǐ yǒu yī gè gēge. I only have one older brother.
  • 我们 有 十块 钱。Wǒmen zhǐ yǒu shí kuài qián. We only have ten RMB.
  • 我们公司 有 两个员工。Wǒmen gōngsī zhǐ yǒu liǎng gè yuángōng. Our company only has two employees.
  • 爱 吃 肉 吗?zhǐ ài chī ròu ma? Do you only like eating meat?
  • 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 要 一个 孩子。Wǒ lǎopo zhǐ yào yī gè háizi. My wife only wants one child.
  • 宝宝 会 走,不 会 跑。Bǎobao zhǐ huì zǒu, bù huì pǎo. The baby can only walk. He can't run.
  • 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