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只有 zhǐyǒu — only, there is only

zhǐyǒu (third tone, dipping)zhi3you3

only, there is only

HSK 3· HSK 1–6 (classic)Level 3· 2021 three-band, nine-level proficiency standardconjunctionverb
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Meanings

  1. only, there is only

    Excludes everything else: 只有他一个人来了. As a conjunction it introduces the one condition that works, answered by 才: 只有努力，才能成功.

    conjunction

Character breakdown

  • 有
    yǒu (third tone, dipping)

    to have, to possess; there is, there are; to exist

    6 strokes⿸𠂇月Radical 月

Example sentences

  • 教室里只有一个学生。教室裡只有一個學生。Jiàoshì (fourth tone, falling) lǐ (third tone, dipping) zhǐyǒu (third tone, dipping) yí (second tone, rising) ge (neutral tone) xuésheng. (second tone, rising)···

    There’s only one student in the classroom.

  • 只有多练习，水平才能提高。只有多練習，水平才能提高。Zhǐyǒu (third tone, dipping) duō (first tone, high and level) liànxí, (fourth tone, falling) shuǐpíng (third tone, dipping) cái (second tone, rising) néng (second tone, rising) tígāo. (second tone, rising)···

    Only by practising a lot can your level improve.

Common mistakes

  • Not quite只有多练习，水平就能提高。

    Correct只有多练习，水平才能提高。

    只有 is answered by 才, not by 就. 就 says the result comes easily; 才 says it comes only on that one condition — which is exactly what 只有 sets up.

Similar words

Words containing 有