Meanings of 衹
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About 衹
Podcast: 衹
Podcast: 衹
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AI Study Notes for 衹
只 (zhǐ) - use 衹 when emphasizing a limited or exclusive condition; use 只 for general 'only' or 'just' in broader contexts.
This character is somewhat formal and may not be as commonly used in everyday conversation compared to its synonyms. Be careful with the pronunciation, as it shares a similar sound with other characters that have different meanings. Common collocations include phrases emphasizing limitation, such as '仅仅' (jǐn jǐn, only) or '只是' (zhǐ shì, just).
While 衹 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it can enrich your understanding of nuanced expressions of limitation. Focus on its use in literary contexts or classical texts, and relate it to HSK Level 3 words like 只 (zhǐ), which also means 'only.'
Learners often confuse 衹 with 只 (zhǐ), which has a similar meaning but is more commonly used. For example, saying '我衹想要这个' (Wǒ zhǐ xiǎng yào zhège) instead of '我只想要这个' (Wǒ zhǐ xiǎng yào zhège) is incorrect; use 只 for everyday conversation.
Pronunciation of 衹
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Etymology of 衹
Phonosemantic compound. 衤 represents the meaning and 氏 represents the sound.
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Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 衹
Phonosemantic compound. 衤 represents the meaning and 氏 represents the sound.
- 1The meaning half衤 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half氏 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaycloth
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 衹? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 衹
Identify the Components
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How to say only, merely, just in Chinese
“only, merely, just” in Chinese is衹
The character 衹 (zhǐ) primarily conveys the meaning of 'only,' 'merely,' or 'just.' It can be used in contexts where something is limited in quantity or scope, emphasizing exclusivity or simplicity. Additionally, it serves as a variant of the character 祇, which relates to earth spirits and peace, connecting it to cultural beliefs about nature and spirituality.
When to use 衹
This character is somewhat formal and may not be as commonly used in everyday conversation compared to its synonyms. Be careful with the pronunciation, as it shares a similar sound with other characters that have different meanings. Common collocations include phrases emphasizing limitation, such as '仅仅' (jǐn jǐn, only) or '只是' (zhǐ shì, just).
衹 or something close to it
只 (zhǐ) - use 衹 when emphasizing a limited or exclusive condition; use 只 for general 'only' or 'just' in broader contexts.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 衹 with 只 (zhǐ), which has a similar meaning but is more commonly used. For example, saying '我衹想要这个' (Wǒ zhǐ xiǎng yào zhège) instead of '我只想要这个' (Wǒ zhǐ xiǎng yào zhège) is incorrect; use 只 for everyday conversation.
Write 衹
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Practice writing 衹 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 衹
Compound Meaning
What does 衹 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 衹
It means 'only' or 'merely,' and can also refer to earth spirits and peace in some contexts.
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