Chinese word

只有

Pronunciation

Pinyinzhǐ yǒu

Meaning

  • adverbonly

Example

我只有两个选择。wǒ zhí yǒu liǎng gè xuǎn zé

I have only two choices.

Illustration for 只有 (only)

More examples

我只有在安静的时候才能学习。wǒ zhí yǒu zài ān jìng de shí hòu cái néng xué xí

I can study only when it is quiet.

Core concept

A gate that lets one choice, amount, or condition through and leaves the rest out.

Common phrases

  • 只有...才能...zhí yǒu cái néng

    only if ___ can ___

  • 只有...的时候zhí yǒu de shí hòu

    only when ___

Similar words

只zhǐ: Shows that nothing beyond the stated item or amount is included.
只是zhǐ shì: Shows that something is just as stated, without an additional meaning or reason.

Definition in Chinese

作副词使用，用来限定数量、范围或条件，表示仅此一项或仅在此情况下成立。zuò fù cí shǐ yòng yòng lái xiàn dìng shù liàng fàn wéi huò tiáo jiàn biǎo shì jǐn cǐ yí xiàng huò jǐn zài cǐ qíng kuàng xià chéng lì

Word origin

只有 (zhǐyǒu, "only have") combines 只 (zhǐ, "only") with 有 (yǒu, "have") to present one option or condition as the sole one available.

Usage tips

  • In 只有 (zhǐyǒu, "only have")...才 (cái, "only then")..., natural English usually puts "only" before the condition and "then" before the result.

Other meanings

  • justadverb
  • only ifconjunction

Opposites

  • 不只是bù zhǐ shìnot onlyadverb

Word lists with this word