Definition
仅 (jǐn) is a formal, written adverb meaning 'only, merely' — it is more literary than the everyday spoken 只 (zhǐ). Its reduplicated form 仅仅 (jǐn jǐn) adds emphasis ('only and nothing more'). 只是 (zhǐ shì) can also mean 'merely' but is more flexible and also serves as a conjunction meaning 'but'.
adverb
onlymerelybarely
Easily confused
- 傻shǎlook-alikefoolish, stupid, silly
- 进jìnsound-aliketo enter, to go in
- 双shuānglook-alike(classifier) pair (for things that come in twos: shoes, socks, hands, etc.)
- 尽jìnsound-alike(verb) to use up, to exhaust, to finish
- 反fǎnlook-alike(adjective / adverb) opposite; contrary; in reverse
- 尽jǐnsound-alike(adverb) to the greatest extent, as much as possible
- 化huàlook-alike(suffix) -ize; -ification; to make into a certain state
- 近jìnsound-alikenear; close (in distance or time)
- 假jiǎlook-alikefake, false; artificial
- 紧jǐnsound-alike(adjective) tight, tight-fitting (of clothes, shoes, etc.)
Examples
- 仅。Wǒ jǐn yòng le yí gè xiǎoshí jiù wánchéng le rènwu.I finished the task in only an hour.
- 仅。Tā jǐn kàn le wǒ yì yǎn jiù zǒu le.She just glanced at me and left.
- 仅，。Zhè jǐn shì ge kāishǐ, nǐ hái yǒu hěn duō shì yào zuò.This is merely the beginning; you still have a lot to do.
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