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唯独 (wéi dú) — only, just (with contrastive nuance, singling out one as different from all others); except (as in 'with the sole exception of')

Definition

Singles out one person or thing as different from all others ("only he…", "everyone … except him"). Unlike 除了, which excludes, 唯独 emphasizes contrast: this one stands apart.

adverb
onlyjust (with contrastive nuance, singling out one as different from all others)except (as in 'with the sole exception of')

Examples

  • ，唯独。
    Dà jiā dōu hěn kāi xīn, wéi dú tā yì liǎn bù gāo xìng.
    Everyone was very happy; only he looked unhappy.
  • ，唯独。
    Tā shén me dōu chī, wéi dú bù chī yáng cōng.
    He eats everything except onions.
  • 唯独？
    Wèi shén me wéi dú nǐ chí dào le?
    Why is it only you who is late?

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

唯wéionly
独dúalone

唯 and 独 both single out one thing, so together they mean only or as the sole exception.

Characters in this word

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
隹
隹zhuī唯wěi
Same sound today

The shape pairs 口 (mouth) with 隹, used for its sound. The evidence says this form originally wrote a word for a bird's cry and was later borrowed for abstract meanings.

Open 唯 →

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 獨; 独 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
犭Written in full as犬quǎn
Sound part声符shēngfú
蜀
蜀shǔ獨dú
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 獨 pairs 犬 (dog) with 蜀, which gives the sound; the simplified 独 is a shorthand.

Open 独 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6

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