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只是

zhǐshì
adverb HSK 3 #196

Meanings

  1. 1 merely
  2. 2 only
  3. 3 just; but

Examples

HSK 1
他只是一个学生。
Tā zhǐshì yī gè xuésheng.
He is just a student.
HSK 1
我不是不想去，只是没有时间。
Wǒ bùshì bù xiǎng qù, zhǐshì méiyǒu shíjiān.
It's not that I don't want to go, it's just that I don't have time.
HSK 2
我只是随便看看。
Wǒ zhǐshì suíbiàn kànkan.
I'm just browsing.

Tips

grammar
只是 has two main uses: (1) 'merely/only' to downplay something (只是随便说说, just saying casually), (2) 'but/however' to introduce a contrasting point (只是没有时间, it's just that there's no time).

Stroke Order

只 zhǐ
是 shì