Chinese dictionary
- 1
adv.only; just; merely; no more than; nothing but
只是说说而已。
It's only talk.
只是如此而已。
That's all it is, nothing more.
我说这只是开个玩笑罢了。
I said it merely as a joke.
我今天进城,只是去看看朋友,没有别的事儿。
Today I'm going to town just to see friends.
- 2
adv.simply
他只是不肯。
He's simply not willing.
不管人家怎样问,他只是不开口。
No matter how hard he is pressed, he simply doesn't open his mouth.
这只是一些手续问题。
This is simply a question of formalities.
这位推销员只是通过展示他的产品来作秀。
The salesman was simply making show by displaying his products.
- 3
conj.except that; but; however; but then
我本想去,只是天下雪出不了门。
I originally wanted to go but it began to snow and so I couldn't go out.
本来预备今天拍摄外景,只是天还没有晴。
We planned to shoot a scene on location but the weather has not cleared up.
他各方面都很好,只是品味差些。
He's good in every respect except in taste.
我们本来想野餐的,只是一直下雨。
We had planned to have a picnic, but the rain just wouldn't stop.
Word usage
- Note"只是" is different from "不过". "只是" carries a lighter meaning, and generally there is no pause after it; there can be pauses after "不过".