{{Grammar Box}}
There are a number of different ways to express "[[only]]" in Chinese, but 只 (zhǐ) is the most basic one you need to learn first. It's an [[adverb]], so it normally comes before [[verb]]s.
== Structure ==
The adverb 只 (zhǐ) can come directly before a [[verb]], or before an [[auxiliary verb]] like [[会]] (huì) or [[能]] (néng).
只 + Verb
只 + 会 / 能 + Verb
== Examples ==
*我 只 有 一 个 哥哥。Wǒ zhǐ yǒu yī gè gēge.I only have one older brother.
*我们 只 有 十块 钱。Wǒmen zhǐ yǒu shí kuài qián.We only have ten RMB.
*我们 公司 只 有 两个员工。Wǒmen gōngsī zhǐ yǒu liǎng gè yuángōng.Our company only has two employees.
*你 只 爱 吃 肉 吗？Nǐ zhǐ ài chī ròu ma?Do you only like eating meat?
*他们 只 会 说 英文。Tāmen zhǐ huì shuō Yīngwén.They can only speak English.
*我 只 能 说 两 句 中文。Wǒ zhǐ néng shuō liǎng jù Zhōngwén.I can only say two sentences in Chinese.
*你们 只 要 咖啡 吗？Nǐmen zhǐ yào kāfēi ma? Do you only want coffee?
*我 老婆 只 要 一个 孩子。Wǒ lǎopo zhǐ yào yī gè háizi.My wife only wants one child.
*宝宝 只 会 走，不 会 跑。Bǎobao zhǐ huì zǒu, bù huì pǎo.The baby can only walk. He can't run.
*我 只 想 跟 你 在 一起。Wǒ zhǐ xiǎng gēn nǐ zài yīqǐ.I only want to be with you.
== See Also ==
*[["Just" with "jiu"]]
== Sources and further reading ==
=== Books ===
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (p. 87) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]
* [[Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide]] (p. 251) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 →buy]
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
[[Category: Adverbs]]
{{Basic Grammar|只|A2|只 + Verb|我 只 有 一个 妹妹。|grammar point|ASGN8C8R}}
{{POS|Adverbs}}
{{Used for|Expressing limits}}
{{Similar|"Just" with "jiu"}}
{{Translation|just}}
{{Translation|only}}