只是zhǐ shìmerely; only; just

1. 1.

   merely; only; justadverb

2. 2.

   but; howeverconjunction

• 只only; merely; just
• 是not compositional here

See it in 我只是想知道, 这只是一个问题 and 我很想去，只是今天太忙了.

1. HSK 1

   我只是想知道。

   Wǒ zhǐshì xiǎng zhīdào.

   I just want to know.

2. HSK 1

   这只是一个问题。

   Zhè zhǐshì yí ge wèntí.

   This is only one question.

3. HSK 1

   我很想去，只是今天太忙了。

   Wǒ hěn xiǎng qù, zhǐshì jīntiān tài máng le.

   I really want to go, but I am too busy today.

1. 
   Speaker A:

   你明天去吗？

   Nǐ míngtiān qù ma?

   Are you going tomorrow?

2. 
   Speaker B:

   我很想去，只是今天太忙了。

   Wǒ hěn xiǎng qù, zhǐshì jīntiān tài máng le.

   I really want to go, but I am too busy today.

3. 
   Speaker A:

   你为什么问这个？

   Nǐ wèishénme wèn zhège?

   Why do you ask this?

4. 
   Speaker B:

   我只是想知道。

   Wǒ zhǐshì xiǎng zhīdào.

   I just want to know.

1. 1.Fill in the blank: 我___想知道。 (I just want to know.)

   A只是B因为C所以
2. 2.What does 这只是一个问题。 mean?

   AThis is only one question.BThis is a big question.CThis is not a question.
3. 3.In 我很想去，只是今天太忙了。, what does 只是 mean?

   Abut; howeverBbecauseCvery

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Related words

• 只zhīclassifier for birds and certain animals, one of a pair, some utensils, vessels etcHSK 1
• 是shìto be (followed by substantives only)HSK 1
• 但是dàn shìbut; howeverHSK 2
• 总是zǒng shìalwaysHSK 3
• 只有zhǐ yǒuonly have ...; there is only ...HSK 3
• 只能zhǐ néngcan onlyHSK 3

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