Meaning
只 has two pronunciations with different meanings. As zhǐ (adverb), it means 'only' or 'just,' expressing limitation or exclusivity. As zhī (measure word), it's used to count animals, birds, insects, boats, shoes (one of a pair), and certain containers. The traditional form 隻 is used for the measure word meaning.
Usage
When meaning 'only' (zhǐ), it typically appears before verbs or adjectives and can be paired with 只是, 只有, or 只要 for different nuances. As a measure word (zhī), it's extremely common with animals and appears in everyday conversation. The simplified form 只 represents both meanings, while traditional Chinese distinguishes them (只 for 'only,' 隻 for the measure word).
Examples
- 01我只想喝水，不想吃东西。, .I only want to drink water, I don't want to eat anything.
- 02她养了两只猫和一只狗。.She has two cats and one dog.
Common collocations
- 只好have to, be forced to
- 只能can only
- 只是it's just that, but
- 一只one (animal/object)
Origin
The character originally depicted a hand (below) reaching for something at the mouth (above). The measure word usage derives from counting individual birds or animals, while the 'only' meaning developed from the sense of singularity.