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只不过 (zhǐ bù guò) — only; just; merely (used to introduce a limiting or concessive point)

Definition

A conjunction meaning 'it's just that...' — introduces a small exception or limiting point after a positive statement. Sets up a concession: 'X is fine, 只是/只不过 Y' softens the second clause as a minor drawback.

conjunction
onlyjustmerely (used to introduce a limiting or concessive point)

Examples

  • ，只不过。
    Tā chéng jì hěn hǎo, zhǐ bù guò yīng yǔ chà yì diǎn.
    His grades are good — it's just that his English is a bit weak.
  • ，只不过。
    Wǒ bú shì bù xiǎng qù, zhǐ bù guò shí jiān tài jǐn le.
    It's not that I don't want to go — it's just that time is too tight.
  • ，只不过。
    Zhè bù diàn yǐng hái bú cuò, zhǐ bù guò jié wěi yǒu diǎn tū rán.
    This movie is pretty good, except the ending is a bit abrupt.

Origin

Characters in this word

A 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.

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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.

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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 過; 过 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辵辵chuòwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
咼
咼wāi過guò
Same sound today

The traditional form 過 pairs 辵 (walk) with 咼 as a sound component; the simplified 过 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 过 →
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