只 (only) · 只
State the limit of a family's size
- You have one older brother and no other older brothers.
- 我只有一个哥哥。 — 只 limits the number of older brothers to one.
State the limit of a family's size
- You have one older brother and no other older brothers.
- I / me我only have ...只有一个older brother哥哥。 — only只 limits the number of older brothers to one.
You have one older brother and no other older brothers. What does 我只有一个哥哥。 communicate?
只 limits the number of older brothers to one. In this frame 只 precedes 有, but its scope is supplied by the predicate and context. 只有他知道 means only he knows; do not turn the common position into a claim that 只 always limits the verb's action alone.
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is 只 (only). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
- Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.
I我only只have有one一个older brother哥哥。
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is only只 (only). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
- Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.
I我only只have有one一个older brother哥哥。
Using the lesson pattern in this demonstrated example: Complete: 我 ____ 想跟你在一起。(I only want to be with you.)
只 + Verb — 只想 = “only want.” · 只 + 动词 —— 只想 = “只想要”。
Read examples in context
- In the opening example, 我只有一个哥哥。: 只 limits the number of older brothers to one.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
Read examples in context
- In the opening example, I / me我only have ...只有一个older brother哥哥。: only只 limits the number of older brothers to one.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
Which word order is correct? · 哪个语序是对的?
只 sits before the verb 有: 我只有一个. · 只 放在动词 有 前面:我只有一个。
Build: “I can only say a couple of sentences in Chinese.” · 排一排:“我只能说两句中文。”
只 hugs the auxiliary 能: 我 + 只能 + 说 + 两句中文. · 只 跟助动词 能:我 + 只能 + 说 + 两句中文。
Know the boundary
- In this frame 只 precedes 有, but its scope is supplied by the predicate and context.
- 只有他知道 means only he knows; do not turn the common position into a claim that 只 always limits the verb's action alone.
Know the boundary
- In this frame only只 precedes to have / there is有, but its scope is supplied by the predicate and context.
- only have ...只有he / him他to know知道 means only he knows; do not turn the common position into a claim that only只 always limits the verb's action alone.
只 goes right before the noun (我有只一个). · 只 放在名词前面(我有只一个)。
只 attaches to the verb, not the noun: 我只有一个 ✓. · 只 跟动词,不跟名词:我只有一个 ✓。
只有他知道 means that everyone knows, but they know only one thing.
In this frame 只 precedes 有, but its scope is supplied by the predicate and context. 只有他知道 means only he knows; do not turn the common position into a claim that 只 always limits the verb's action alone. 只 limits the number of older brothers to one.
Use the distinction
- 只 limits the number of older brothers to one.
- In this frame 只 precedes 有, but its scope is supplied by the predicate and context. 只有他知道 means only he knows; do not turn the common position into a claim that 只 always limits the verb's action alone.
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Adverbs.
Use the distinction
- only只 limits the number of older brothers to one.
- In this frame only只 precedes to have / there is有, but its scope is supplied by the predicate and context. only have ...只有he / him他to know知道 means only he knows; do not turn the common position into a claim that only只 always limits the verb's action alone.
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Adverbs.