不仅仅 (bù jǐn jǐn) — not only | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

不仅仅是 'not only', typically paired with 也 / 而且 / 更 to add a contrasting or intensifying second clause. Sets up the structure; the paired word does the 'but also' work.

conjunction

not only

Examples

不仅仅，。
bù jǐn jǐn Tā xǐ huan yīn yuè, ér qiě hái zì jǐ chuàng zuò.
Not only does he like music, but he also creates his own.
不仅仅，。
Zhè ge wèn tí bù jǐn jǐn yǐng xiǎng gè rén, yě yǐng xiǎng zhěng gè tuán duì.
This problem affects not only individuals but also the whole team.
不仅仅，。
bù jǐn jǐn Wèi le kǎo shì, gèng yào wèi le zì jǐ de chéng zhǎng ér xué xí.
Study not only for exams but even more for your own growth.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

仅仅merely

仅jǐnmerely仅jǐnmerely

重叠Reduplication

不 means not and the repeated 仅 gives merely, yielding not merely.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The picture in 不 originally showed a flower’s calyx; the “no” sense came later from a related character, not from this picture.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 僅; 仅 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

堇

堇jǐn僅jǐn

Same sound today

The traditional form 僅 pairs 人, a person, with 堇, which gives the sound; the simplified 仅 is a later shorthand.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 僅; 仅 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

堇

堇jǐn僅jǐn

Same sound today

The traditional form 僅 pairs 人, a person, with 堇, which gives the sound; the simplified 仅 is a later shorthand.

Appears in

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