Meanings of 仅仅
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Podcast: 仅仅
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AI Study Notes for 仅仅
仅仅 (jǐn jǐn) vs 只是 (zhǐ shì): use 仅仅 when emphasizing exclusivity or limitation, while 只是 is more general and can imply a simple statement without strong limitation.
Be careful not to confuse 仅仅 with 只是 (zhǐ shì), which also means 'only' but can imply a more informal tone. It's often used in both written and spoken Chinese, but may sound overly formal in casual conversation. Common collocations include 仅仅是 (jǐn jǐn shì) and 仅仅为了 (jǐn jǐn wèile).
Although 仅仅 is not included in the official HSK vocabulary lists, it is useful for students aiming for a higher level of fluency. Focus on using it in sentences to express minimal amounts or limitations, which connects to other adverbs and conjunctions in the HSK curriculum.
Learners often confuse 仅仅 with 只是 (zhǐ shì). For example, saying '我仅仅喜欢这个' (wǒ jǐn jǐn xǐ huān zhè ge) instead of '我只是喜欢这个' (wǒ zhǐ shì xǐ huān zhè ge) may sound overly formal. Ensure that the context fits the formality of 仅仅.
Pronunciation of 仅仅
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Learning Lab
Knowing 仅仅 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
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Component Characters
How to say barely in Chinese
“barely” in Chinese is仅仅
仅仅 (jǐn jǐn) means 'only' or 'merely,' indicating a limitation or exclusivity in the context it is used. It suggests that something is not more than what is stated or that it falls short of expectations. This word is commonly used to emphasize that a quantity, quality, or degree is minimal.
When to use 仅仅
Be careful not to confuse 仅仅 with 只是 (zhǐ shì), which also means 'only' but can imply a more informal tone. It's often used in both written and spoken Chinese, but may sound overly formal in casual conversation. Common collocations include 仅仅是 (jǐn jǐn shì) and 仅仅为了 (jǐn jǐn wèile).
仅仅 or something close to it
仅仅 (jǐn jǐn) vs 只是 (zhǐ shì): use 仅仅 when emphasizing exclusivity or limitation, while 只是 is more general and can imply a simple statement without strong limitation.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 仅仅 with 只是 (zhǐ shì). For example, saying '我仅仅喜欢这个' (wǒ jǐn jǐn xǐ huān zhè ge) instead of '我只是喜欢这个' (wǒ zhǐ shì xǐ huān zhè ge) may sound overly formal. Ensure that the context fits the formality of 仅仅.
Write 仅仅
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Practice writing 仅仅 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Frequently Asked Questions about 仅仅
Yes, but it often carries a nuance of limitation, so it might sound contradictory in positive contexts.
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