zhǐ: 只 - Only, Just, Merely; (Measure Word)

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• Summary: Discover the meaning of 只 (zhǐ), one of the most essential words in Mandarin Chinese. This page provides a comprehensive guide for beginners on how to use 只 (zhǐ) as both an adverb meaning “only” or “just,” and as a crucial measure word for animals, boats, and single items from a pair (like one shoe). Learn its core meaning, see practical example sentences, and avoid common mistakes like confusing it with 才 (cái).

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zhǐ
• Part of Speech: Adverb, Measure Word
• HSK Level: HSK 1 (Adverb), HSK 2 (Measure Word)
• Concise Definition: An adverb used to limit scope, meaning “only” or “just,” and a measure word for most animals, boats, or one of a pair of items.
• In a Nutshell: Think of 只 (zhǐ) as the Chinese equivalent of “only.” It's your go-to word for saying you “only have one” or you “just want to” do something. It puts a limit on the noun or action that follows. Additionally, it serves a completely different but equally common function as a counter or “measure word.” When you see a cat, you don't say “one cat,” you say “一只猫 (yī zhǐ māo).” It's the standard counter for most animals and for a single shoe, sock, or hand.

• 只 (zhǐ): This is a simple, fundamental character. While its ancient origins are complex, a simple way for beginners to remember it is to see the “口” (kǒu - mouth) radical on top. You can imagine a mouth saying that it wants “only” one thing. The form is simple and must be memorized as a single unit. It's important to note that when used as a measure word, the traditional character is 隻. You may still see 隻 in Hong Kong, Taiwan, or in more traditional texts.

While 只 (zhǐ) doesn't carry deep philosophical weight like terms such as 关系 (guānxi), its grammatical function reveals something about the structure of the Chinese language. Its strict placement—almost always directly before the verb—highlights a key difference from English. In English, we have flexibility:

• “Only I want to eat apples.” (No one else does)
• “I only want to eat apples.” (I don't want to do anything else to them)
• “I want to eat only apples.” (Not any other fruit)

In Chinese, the focus is typically on limiting the verb. The most natural structure is 我只想吃苹果 (Wǒ zhǐ xiǎng chī píngguǒ), which translates most directly to “I only want to eat apples.” To express the other nuances, you would need to restructure the sentence entirely (e.g., 只有我… - zhǐyǒu wǒ…). This shows how Chinese often prioritizes the action, placing the limitation directly upon it, which is a subtle but fundamental shift in perspective for English-speaking learners.

只 is an extremely high-frequency word used constantly in all forms of communication, from casual conversation to formal writing.

This is its most common usage. It limits the verb that follows it, indicating that the action or state is exclusive or small in scope. It's the conversational equivalent of “just” or “only.”

• Connotation: Neutral. It simply states a fact.
• Formality: Used in both formal and informal contexts.

This is its second key function. Chinese requires a “measure word” or “classifier” between a number and a noun, much like “a loaf of bread” or “two sheets of paper” in English, but for almost every noun. 只 is the default measure word for:

• Most animals: cats (猫), dogs (狗), birds (鸟), tigers (老虎), insects (虫子).
• One item from a pair: a shoe (鞋), a sock (袜子), an eye (眼睛), a hand (手).
• Boats and ships: 船.

Example 1:

• 我只有一个哥哥。
• Pinyin: Wǒ zhǐ yǒu yī ge gēge.
• English: I only have one older brother.
• Analysis: Here, 只 is an adverb that modifies the verb 有 (yǒu - to have), limiting the quantity of older brothers to just one.

Example 2:

• 桌子上有一只猫。
• Pinyin: Zhuōzi shàng yǒu yī zhǐ māo.
• English: There is a cat on the table.
• Analysis: In this sentence, 只 is a measure word used to count the cat (猫). It connects the number 一 (yī) to the noun.

Example 3:

• 我今天只想待在家里。
• Pinyin: Wǒ jīntiān zhǐ xiǎng dāi zài jiālǐ.
• English: I just want to stay at home today.
• Analysis: A common conversational use. 只 modifies the verb 想 (xiǎng - to want), indicating that staying at home is the *only* thing the speaker wants to do.

Example 4:

• 我的另一只袜子在哪儿？
• Pinyin: Wǒ de lìng yī zhǐ wàzi zài nǎr?
• English: Where is my other sock?
• Analysis: This shows 只 used as a measure word for a single item from a pair (socks - 袜子). The measure word for a *pair* of socks would be 双 (shuāng).

Example 5:

• 我们只是朋友，不是男女朋友。
• Pinyin: Wǒmen zhǐ shì péngyǒu, bù shì nánnǚ péngyǒu.
• English: We are just friends, not boyfriend and girlfriend.
• Analysis: A classic phrase. 只 modifies 是 (shì - to be), clarifying the limited nature of the relationship.

Example 6:

• 这家商店只收现金。
• Pinyin: Zhè jiā shāngdiàn zhǐ shōu xiànjīn.
• English: This store only accepts cash.
• Analysis: A practical example you might see on a sign. 只 limits the verb 收 (shōu - to accept) to the object 现金 (xiànjīn - cash).

Example 7:

• 他看了一只很漂亮的鸟。
• Pinyin: Tā kànle yī zhǐ hěn piàoliang de niǎo.
• English: He saw a very beautiful bird.
• Analysis: 只 is the standard measure word for 鸟 (niǎo - bird).

Example 8:

• 对不起，我只会说一点儿中文。
• Pinyin: Duìbuqǐ, wǒ zhǐ huì shuō yīdiǎnr Zhōngwén.
• English: Sorry, I can only speak a little bit of Chinese.
• Analysis: A very useful sentence for beginners. 只 emphasizes the limited ability (会说 - can speak).

Example 9:

• 你为什么只买了一个苹果？
• Pinyin: Nǐ wèishéme zhǐ mǎi le yī ge píngguǒ?
• English: Why did you only buy one apple?
• Analysis: 只 is used in a question to inquire about the reason for a small or limited action.

Example 10:

• 公园里有两只可爱的小狗。
• Pinyin: Gōngyuán lǐ yǒu liǎng zhǐ kě'ài de xiǎo gǒu.
• English: There are two cute little dogs in the park.
• Analysis: Shows the use of 只 as a measure word with the number two, which is expressed as 两 (liǎng) before a measure word.

1. Confusing 只 (zhǐ) and 才 (cái): This is the most common pitfall for learners. Both can translate to “only,” but they have very different connotations.

• 只 (zhǐ): States a neutral fact about a small quantity or limited scope. It's objective.
  • > 我只睡了五个小时。(Wǒ zhǐ shuì le wǔ ge xiǎoshí.)
  • > “I only slept for five hours.” (A simple statement of fact.) * 才 (cái): Implies the quantity is less than expected, or that something happened later than expected. It often carries a subtle feeling of surprise, dissatisfaction, or “that's all?”. * > 我才睡了五个小时。(Wǒ cái shuì le wǔ ge xiǎoshí.) * > “I only slept for five hours.” (Implies: That's not enough! I'm still tired.)

2. Confusing 只 (zhǐ) and 仅仅 (jǐnjǐn):

• 只 (zhǐ): The common, everyday word for “only.” Use this in 99% of spoken conversations.
• 仅仅 (jǐnjǐn): A more formal, written-style word for “only” or “merely.” Using it in casual conversation can sound a bit stiff or overly academic.
  • > Spoken: 我只想帮你。(Wǒ zhǐ xiǎng bāng nǐ. - I just want to help you.)
  • > Written: 这仅仅是问题的一部分。(Zhè jǐnjǐn shì wèntí de yī bùfèn. - This is merely one part of the problem.)

3. Incorrect Placement: Remember, as an adverb, 只 must be placed before the verb it modifies.

• Incorrect: ~~我吃饭只。~~ (Wǒ chīfàn zhǐ.)
• Correct: 我只吃饭。(Wǒ zhǐ chīfàn. - I only eat; I don't do other things.)

• 才 (cái) - Also means “only,” but implies a quantity is smaller or an action is later than expected. A key point of confusion with 只.
• 仅仅 (jǐnjǐn) - A more formal, literary synonym for “only” or “merely.”
• 双 (shuāng) - The measure word for a “pair” (e.g., 一双鞋 - a pair of shoes), which is the counterpart to using 只 for a single item.
• 条 (tiáo) - A common measure word for long, thin objects like fish, rivers, and pants. A good contrast to 只 for animals.
• 个 (gè) - The most general and common measure word in Chinese. When in doubt, beginners often use 个, but learning specific ones like 只 is crucial for fluency.
• 都 (dōu) - A conceptual antonym; it means “all” or “both,” indicating inclusivity rather than the exclusivity of 只.
• 隻 (zhī) - The traditional character for 只 when used as a measure word. Recognizing it is helpful for reading materials from Taiwan, Hong Kong, or older texts.