Kilo Lingo

(zhǐ shì) - just, merely, only in Mandarin

zhǐshì

Traditional: 只是

Line drawing of 只是
Coloured illustration of 只是
HSK 2
#75 of 5,000 Core 1000

Translation

just, merely, only

Word origin

只是 (zhǐshì) 'just, merely' joins 只 (zhǐ, 'only') and 是 (shì, 'to be'). 只 is 口 (mouth) with two marks beneath; 是 combines 日 (sun) over 正 (straight) as the copula.

Origin
compound
Root
只 (zhǐ, 'only') + 是 (shì, 日 sun + 正 straight)

Stroke order

Stroke order for 只

Stroke order for 是

Examples

I just want to help you.

This is just a joke, do not take it seriously.

He is just a bit tired, nothing major.

I just wanted to help.

He is only a child.

Used in

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This word is part of lesson 2.