Kilo Lingo

(zhǐ yǒu) - only, just, the only one in Mandarin

zhǐyǒu

Traditional: 只有

Line drawing of 只有
Coloured illustration of 只有
HSK 3
#212 of 5,000 Core 1000

Translation

only, just, the only one

Word origin

只有 (zhǐyǒu) 'only, the only' joins 只 (zhǐ, 'only') and 有 (yǒu, 'to have'). 有 shows a hand 又 holding a piece of meat 肉/月, hence 'to have, possess'.

Origin
compound
Root
只 (zhǐ, 'only') + 有 (yǒu, hand 又 + meat 月, 'to have')

Stroke order

Stroke order for 只

Stroke order for 有

Examples

Only you can help me.

There is only me here.

There is only one way.

Only he knows the answer.

Only through practice can one improve.

只有 (zhǐ yǒu) means only, just, the only one. It is used as a adverb in everyday Mandarin speech.

Where this fits

Used in

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Mandarin · Free printables

只有: worksheet, infographic and listicle

Free printable study downloads for the Mandarin word "只有" (only, just, the only one): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.

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This word is part of lesson 5.