Chinese word

不止

Pronunciation

Pinyinbù zhǐ

Meaning

  • adverbnot just

Example

他不止一次来过这里。tā bù zhǐ yí cì lái guò zhè lǐ

He has been here not just once.

Illustration for 不止 (not just)

More examples

他不止认真，也很有创造力。tā bù zhǐ rèn zhēn yě hěn yǒu chuàng zào lì

He is not just serious but also very creative.

Core concept

What is named is only part of the total, not the full extent of the matter.

Common phrases

  • 不止这样bù zhǐ zhè yàng

    not just this

  • 不止一种bù zhǐ yì zhǒng

    more than one kind

Similar words

不仅bù jǐn: Adds another matter that is also included, rather than limiting the statement to one.
不只bù zhǐ: Indicates that the actual quantity or content exceeds the amount just given.
不光bù guāng: Indicates that the situation includes other aspects or areas as well as the one mentioned.
不仅仅bù jín jǐn: Emphasizes that the matter goes beyond what is merely stated or counted.

Definition in Chinese

表示某事物或情况不局限于某一程度或范围，含有超出、超过的意思，可用于强调比所述更多或更强。biǎo shì mǒu shì wù huò qíng kuàng bù jú xiàn yú mǒu yì chéng dù huò fàn wéi hán yǒu chāo chū chāo guò de yì si kě yòng yú qiáng diào bǐ suǒ shù gèng duō huò gèng qiáng

Word origin

不止 (bùzhǐ, "not stop") is formed from 不 (bù, "not") and 止 (zhǐ, "stop"), expressing the idea that something does not stop at the point already mentioned.

Usage tips

  • Before a number, it makes that number sound like a lower bound rather than a precise total, which is useful when correcting an underestimated count.

Other meanings

  • more thanadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word