(zhǐ néng) - can only, have no choice but to in Mandarin
zhǐnéngTraditional: 只能
Translation
can only, have no choice but to
Word origin
只能 (zhǐnéng) 'can only' joins 只 (zhǐ, 'only') and 能 (néng, 'to be able'). 只 shows 口 (mouth) with marks below, used for 'only'; 能 was originally a pictograph of a bear, later borrowed to mean 'ability, can'.
- Origin
- compound
- Root
- 只 (zhǐ, 'only') + 能 (néng, pictograph of a bear, borrowed for 'ability')
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).
Add to review queue
Track this word in your spaced-repetition queue and be tested on it at the right interval.
Go to my review queueThis word is part of lesson 11.