📘 Lernkarte #2730 — 只 (zhǐ)
🔤 Basic Data
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Hanzi: 只
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Pinyin: zhǐ
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IPA: [ʈʂɨ̀]
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Tone: 🔵 3
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Meaning: only; just; merely
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Semantic class: adverb / classifier (two uses!)
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HSK: 1
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Frequency: extremely high (core grammar word)
⭐ Core Meaning
1️⃣ 只 (zhǐ) — only / just (adverb)
EN:
只 means “only / just”, used to limit quantity, scope, or condition.
DE:
只 bedeutet „nur“, um Einschränkung oder Begrenzung auszudrücken.
➡️ 只 = nothing more than
2️⃣ 只 (zhī) — classifier (different tone!)
(for animals, some paired objects)
⚠️ Different pronunciation — important 多音字
🔗 Common Collocations (zhǐ = only)
| Hanzi |
Pinyin |
English |
Deutsch |
| 只要 |
zhǐyào |
as long as |
solange |
| 只有 |
zhǐyǒu |
only have / only if |
nur wenn |
| 只好 |
zhǐhǎo |
have no choice but |
nichts anderes übrig |
| 只会 |
zhǐ huì |
only can |
nur können |
| 只是 |
zhǐshì |
only / merely |
nur / bloß |
🇬🇧 ENGLISH — Full Explanation (with Pinyin)
As an adverb (most common)
只 limits what is possible or true.
quantity
我只有一个问题。
Wǒ zhǐ yǒu yí gè wèntí.
I only have one question.
action
他只看不说。
Tā zhǐ kàn bù shuō.
He only looks, he doesn’t speak.
condition
只要你来，我就高兴。
Zhǐyào nǐ lái, wǒ jiù gāoxìng.
As long as you come, I’ll be happy.
⚠️ Usage notes (EN)
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usually placed before the verb
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often paired with 就 / 才
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extremely important grammar word
🇩🇪 DEUTSCH — Erklärung (mit Pinyin)
只 wird verwendet, um etwas einzugrenzen.
Einschränkung
我只吃一点。
Wǒ zhǐ chī yìdiǎn.
Ich esse nur ein bisschen.
Bedingung
只要努力，就会成功。
Zhǐyào nǔlì, jiù huì chénggōng.
Wenn man sich nur anstrengt, wird man Erfolg haben.
⚠️ Hinweis (DE)
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sehr häufige Satzstruktur
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wichtig für Logik & Argumentation
🌟 COMPARISON — 只 vs related words
| Meaning |
Pinyin |
Hanzi |
Note |
| only |
zhǐ |
只 |
neutral |
| just (emphasis) |
zhǐshì |
只是 |
softer |
| merely |
jǐn |
仅 |
formal |
| only then |
cái |
才 |
time/condition |
| all |
dōu |
都 |
opposite idea |
01｜Syllable Analysis — zhǐ
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zhǐ — IPA [ʈʂɨ̀] — Tone 3
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dipping tone → limitation / narrowing
02｜Mnemonics — 只 (only)
| Category |
EN |
DE |
| Meaning link |
one thing only |
nur eine Sache |
| Tone link |
dip = limit |
Einschränkung |
| Visual |
spotlight on one item |
Fokus auf eins |
| Memory tip |
“just this” |
„nur das“ |
03｜Didactic Summary — 只 (zhǐ)
| Focus |
EN |
DE |
| Meaning |
only |
nur |
| Usage |
limitation |
Einschränkung |
| Tone |
3rd |
3. Ton |
| Register |
neutral |
neutral |
| Frequency |
extremely high |
extrem hoch |
❌ Common Learner Notes
❌ 只 = 只有 ❌ (word vs pattern)
❌ wrong position ❌ (put before verb)
❌ confuse with 只 (zhī classifier) ❌
✅ 我只要这个 ✔️
✅ 他只说中文 ✔️
✅ 只要你来 ✔️
✅ Fazit #2730 — 只 (zhǐ)
EN:
A core grammar word meaning only, essential for limitation, logic, and conditions.
DE:
Ein zentrales Grammatikwort für nur, unverzichtbar für klare Aussagen im Chinesischen.