只能
zhǐnéngTraditional: 只能
HSK 4
#527 of 5,000 Core 1000
Translation
can only, have no choice but to
Stroke order
只
能
Examples
，。
Without a car, I can only walk.
。
Only you can do this matter.
。
I can only tell you this much.
雨，。
It is raining, so I can only stay at home.
。
Right now we can only wait.
只能 (zhǐ néng) combines 只 (only) with 能 (can), meaning can only or have no choice but to. It expresses a restriction - that the speaker or subject is limited to one course of action. It often carries a sense of reluctant acceptance. Related expressions include 只好 (zhǐ hǎo, have no choice but) and 不得不 (bù dé bù, must, have no option).
Related words
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Go to my review queueThis word is part of lesson 11.