只 (zhī) — (classifier) used for one of a pair of animals, objects, or body parts; also for boats, certain containers
Definition
只 (zhǐ) is a classifier for one of a pair — typically animals, body parts, or things that come in pairs (e.g., one cat, one eye, one boat). Unlike 件, which counts clothing, objects, or matters, 只 pairs with living things and paired items.
classifier
used for one of a pair of animals, objects, or body partsalso for boatscertain containers
Easily confused
- 只zhǐlook-alikeonly, just, merely
- 之zhīsound-alike(literary, possessive particle) equivalent to 的
- 之zhīsound-alike(literary pronoun) him, her, it (used as object)
- 支zhīsound-alikeclassifier for long, thin objects (pens, guns), army divisions, and songs/compositions
- 支zhīsound-aliketo prop up, to support
- 织zhīsound-aliketo weave (cloth, fabric)
Examples
- 只。Wǒ yǎng le yì zhī māo.I have a cat.
- 只。Hé shàng yǒu yì zhī xiǎo chuán.There is a small boat on the river.
- 只。Tā de yì zhī jiǎo shòu shāng le.One of his feet is injured.
Origin
Pictograph六书liùshū
象形xiàngxíngA drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.
只 shows air coming out of a mouth, for a word used in speech.
Grammar
Appears in
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