HSK 4, d, 4 strokes, radical 亻, rank #1659, Medium
仅
jǐn
only
HSK 4, d, 4 strokes, radical 亻, rank #1659, Medium
仅
jǐn
merely
HSK 4, d, 4 strokes, radical 亻, rank #1659, Medium
仅
jǐn
only, merely, solely, just
HSK 4, d, 4 strokes, radical 亻, rank #1659, Medium
jǐn(jin3)jin T3
1barely
2only
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March 24, 2026
仅(僅)jǐn(jin3)
仅 (jǐn) means 'only' or 'merely' and is used to indicate a limitation or to emphasize that something is minimal. It can express the idea of 'just enough' or 'barely,' often highlighting a contrast or a restriction in quantity or extent.
Strokes4Radical亻Frequency#1659DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of limitation is often associated with humility and modesty, which is reflected in the use of 仅 to downplay one's achievements or possessions. This can be seen in phrases like 仅供参考 (jǐn gōng cān kǎo, 'for reference only').
Memory Tip
Imagine a thin line drawn on a paper, representing 'just enough.' The character 仅 has a simple structure, with the left side representing a person (亻) and the right side suggesting something minimal or small. This can help you remember that 仅 means 'only' or 'just.'
Meanings of 仅
jǐn(jin3)
1barely
2only
Exercise 1 of 3
By ear
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About 仅
仅Simplified
僅Traditional
4Strokes
亻Radical
副词fùcíadverb (adv.)Part of Speech
#1659Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2
Podcast: 仅
Podcast: 仅
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AI Study Notes for 仅
Quick Contrast
仅 (jǐn) vs 只是 (zhǐ shì): Use 仅 to emphasize a strict limitation, while 只是 conveys a more casual sense of 'just' or 'only' without the same degree of restriction.
Usage Notes
Be cautious of using 仅 in overly formal contexts, as it is often used in everyday conversation. Common collocations include 仅仅 (jǐn jǐn, 'merely') and 仅有 (jǐn yǒu, 'only have'). Remember that the third tone can sometimes be mistaken for the second tone in casual speech.
HSK Study Tips
Although 仅 is not in the official HSK vocabulary lists, it is a useful word to know at the HSK 3 level and beyond. Students should focus on its usage in sentences to understand its limiting nature and practice with phrases that employ 仅.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 仅 with 只 (zhǐ), leading to sentences like '我仅喜欢这个' instead of '我只喜欢这个' (I only like this). It's important to understand that 仅 carries a slightly more formal tone.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 仅
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How Well Do You Know 仅?
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Knowing 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.
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声å—)~80-90% of characters
Explanation
Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 堇 represents the sound. The simplified character 仅 was adapted from the cursive form of the traditional character 僅.
仅 (jǐn) means 'only' or 'merely' and is used to indicate a limitation or to emphasize that something is minimal. It can express the idea of 'just enough' or 'barely,' often highlighting a contrast or a restriction in quantity or extent.
When to use 仅
Be cautious of using 仅 in overly formal contexts, as it is often used in everyday conversation. Common collocations include 仅仅 (jǐn jǐn, 'merely') and 仅有 (jǐn yǒu, 'only have'). Remember that the third tone can sometimes be mistaken for the second tone in casual speech.
仅 or something close to it
仅 (jǐn) vs 只是 (zhǐ shì): Use 仅 to emphasize a strict limitation, while 只是 conveys a more casual sense of 'just' or 'only' without the same degree of restriction.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 仅 with 只 (zhǐ), leading to sentences like '我仅喜欢这个' instead of '我只喜欢这个' (I only like this). It's important to understand that 仅 carries a slightly more formal tone.
Write 仅
仅
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Grammar Patterns of 仅
仅 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
However, the rationale for such in-itiatives is not, of course, solely economic.
10
他们仅为此付给他10英镑，这真让他感到愤怒。
tā mén jǐn wéi cǐ fù gěi tā10 10 yīng， bàng ， zhè zhēn ràng tā gǎn dào。
They paid him only £10 for it and it really rankled.
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Cultural Notes for 仅
💡Did you know?
'仅' is often used in daily conversation to express limitation. For example, you might say '我仅有一点钱' (I only have a little money). It reflects a sense of modesty in Chinese culture.
📜Proverb
There is a Chinese saying '千里之行，始于足下' which translates to 'A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.' This relates to the meaning of '仅', emphasizing that even a small action can lead to great outcomes.
Word Family of 仅
Words Containing This Character7
仅jǐnbarely僅
不仅bùjǐnnot only (this one)不僅
仅仅jǐnjǐnbarely僅僅
仅次于jǐncìyúsecond only to...僅次于
不仅如此not only that, but ...不僅如此
绝无仅有unique of its kind絕無僅有
硕果仅存only remaining of the great (idiom); one of the few greats extant碩果僅存
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 仅
What does 不仅 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 仅
While both 仅 (jǐn) and 只是 (zhǐ shì) can mean 'only,' they have slightly different usages. 仅 typically emphasizes quantity or limitation, while 只是 often implies a contrast or a simple statement. Understanding the context can help you choose the appropriate term.
仅 (jǐn) means 'only' or 'merely' in Chinese. It is used to emphasize the limitation or exclusivity of something. For example, in a sentence, it can indicate that something is restricted to a certain extent.
To use 仅 in a sentence, you can place it before the noun or verb to convey limitation. For instance, '我仅有一块钱' means 'I only have one dollar.' It effectively emphasizes the small quantity or exclusivity.
Not exactly; while both mean 'only,' 仅 emphasizes limitation while 只是 often suggests a contrast or clarification.
Yes, 仅 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is more commonly found in spoken language.
仅 and 仅仅 have similar meanings, but 仅仅 is more emphatic and often used to stress the minimal aspect.
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