只 (only)
Just this, nothing more
- Want to say "only" — only one, only you, only a little?
- The everyday word is only只 (zhǐ).
- The catch for English speakers: it clings to the verb, not the noun.
only只 hugs the verb
- Put only只 right before the verb (or an auxiliary like can / will会 / can / be able to能).
I我only只have有one一个older brother哥哥。
- I / me我only have ...只有一个 = "I only have one" — only只 sits on to have / there is有, never on 一个.
Explore
Correct or broken?
只 limits the verb phrase after it — put it right before what is limited.
Practice
Complete: 我 ____ 想跟你在一起。(I only want to be with you.)
只 + Verb — 只想 = “only want.”
Practice
Which word order is correct?
只 sits before the verb 有: 我只有一个.
Practice
只 goes right before the noun (我有只一个).
只 attaches to the verb, not the noun: 我只有一个 ✓.
Practice
Build: “I can only say a couple of sentences in Chinese.”
只 hugs the auxiliary 能: 我 + 只能 + 说 + 两句中文.
Recap
Key idea
- only只 + Verb — only (do / have …)
- only只 attaches to the verb, not the noun: I / me我only have ...只有一个 ✓
- English "only" floats around; Chinese only只 stays glued to the verb
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Adverbs.