Breath trailing downward from an open mouth, a sentence-final word.
Only, merely; a single one, one of a pair, or a measure word for animals. A mouth (口) with two little legs (八) beneath it, "just" talking and staying put.
只
Common Usage & Traps
- 一只猫 — one cat
- 两只狗 — two dogs
- 只喝水 — only drink water
- 只吃米饭 — only eat rice
- 只看书 — only read books
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一个猫一只猫For cats, dogs, and most animals, 只 is the normal counting word. 个 makes the animal sound like a generic object.
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只人一个人只 does not count people. For one person, use 个: 一个人.
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我吃只苹果我只吃苹果When 只 means 'only', it must come before the action word, not after it.
Why do Chinese people say 一只猫 but not 一个猫?
只 counts cats, dogs, and most animals; 个 is for people or generic things.
一只猫 is the natural way to count a cat. If you say 一个猫, it sounds like you are calling the cat a random object. Use 只 for many animals, especially cats and dogs. Use 个 for people or when you don't know the special counting word.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Counting a cat | 一只猫 | 一个猫 |
| Counting a dog | 一只狗 | 一个狗 |
| Counting a person | 一个人 | 一只人 |
Why is 只 pronounced zhī in 一只猫 but zhǐ in 我只喝水?
zhī counts animals; zhǐ means 'only' and goes before the action word.
The same character hides two different jobs. When it counts animals, like in 一只猫, say zhī. When it means 'only', like in 我只喝水, say zhǐ. If you swap the tones, the sentence sounds broken to native ears.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Counting a cat | 一只猫 (yì zhī māo) | 一只猫 (yì zhǐ māo) |
| Meaning 'only' | 我只喝水 (wǒ zhǐ hē shuǐ) | 我只喝水 (wǒ zhī hē shuǐ) |
Where does 只 go when it means 'only'?
只 sits right before the action word: 我只喝水. Putting it after the verb sounds broken.
只 is a spotlight. It shines on whatever comes right after it. 我只喝水 means the only thing I drink is water. If you park 只 at the end, 我喝水只, native speakers hear a sentence that never finished. Same rule for 只吃米饭, 只看书, 只买一件.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Only drink water | 我只喝水 | 我喝水只 |
| Only eat rice | 我只吃米饭 | 我吃米饭只 |
| Only buy one | 我只买一个 | 我买一个只 |
Appears in Stories 10 stories
Think instant noodles are unhealthy? This HSK 6 article challenges common myths and reveals surprising facts about nutrition, oil, and salt in this convenient food.
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误会二：方便面没有什么营养事实上，除了刚出生的小宝宝可以 只吃 一种食物获得全部营养以外，没有任何人可以从单一一种食物中获得全部的营养。
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就是说，没有任何一种食物可以提供全面营养，也就没有任何人 只吃 一种食物就可以完全满足身体的需要。
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事实上，油炸方便面的含油量比中国人传统常吃的油条，以及现在年轻人喜欢的炸薯条、炸土豆片什么的低很多， 只是 它们的二分之一不到。
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而方便面油炸时的油温在145℃-165℃之间，而且油炸的时间 只有 几十秒钟。
A young man helps an old man look for his cat. But the real surprise is why the old man wanted to find the cat. Read on to learn about kindness and friendship.
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一天，白天明在学校大门口前边看见有人写了找猫的话：“我想找一 只 大白猫。
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找了一个月，白天明也没有看见 那只 大白猫。
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白天明看见老先生的家里，有 一只 很大很白的大猫。
Discover how a simple letter from a cookie seller led to an unexpected friendship with a famous scholar. This heartwarming story explores kindness and connection across social divides.
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胡之适接到这封信，知道了他虽然 只是 一位卖饼干的，竟然能在业余勤奋自学；问的又是胡博士最关心的英美政治问题，更觉十分高兴，便立即亲自写了一封回信。
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我 只能 说，你说的英国制度和美国制度其实没有什么不一样。
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““我还可以说，我们这个地方，有一个卖饼干的，每天在街上叫卖饼干，但他还愿意关心国家大事，关心英美的政治制度，希望国家能走上正确的道路── 只 这件奇事，已够使我乐观，使我高兴了。
This humorous dialogue follows a man who spends all his savings on his girlfriend's Apple phone and a lucky number, leaving him broke. A fun read for HSK 3 learners.
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打一次要一百多，现在我 只 在马路上慢跑了。
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天啊，买完手机，换完新号，我的银行卡上 只有 一百块了！
This playful poem helps you count and practice vocabulary about clothes, students, and pets. Enjoy the rhythm while learning new words.
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买了五 只 小猫，七百零五块钱。
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卖了六 只 小狗，四百零九元钱。
In this funny HSK 2 story, a boy asks his father for money every day. When his father tries to teach him a lesson, the boy's clever reply will make you laugh.
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钱老师 只有 一个孩子，叫钱学中。
In this warm dialogue, a parent introduces their family at a restaurant. A teacher gently corrects common mistakes about family words and names, making it perfect for HSK 2 learners.
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B：你 只有 一个儿子，所以不要说“大儿子”，也不要说“小女儿”，就说“女儿”就好。
Follow Xiao Li as he copes with the effects of forest fires near his home in the US and reflects on environmental changes. A thoughtful story for HSK 4 learners.
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科学家说，受影响的 不只是 森林里的动物和植物，还有附近的城市。
Why would a millionaire leave a table of lobster and wagyu untouched? This story explores the hidden rules of business dining and the true cost of staying alert.
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整桌的龙虾、和牛，他一点儿没有碰，全程 只 动了三次筷子：一筷子鱼，一根青菜，半碗汤。
Is four years to reach HSK 5 fast or slow? Follow a conversation between two learners as they compare study hours and share realistic strategies for busy adults.
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B：我们说话的时候， 只 说“汉语”就可以了，就是说“中文老师、汉语老师”都可以。
Questions & Discussion 0 questions
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