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唯独 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
唯独wéidúonlyHSK 7, d, 20 strokes, rank #17677, Very Hard
唯独wéidújust (i.e. it is only that...)HSK 7, d, 20 strokes, rank #17677, Very Hard
唯独wéidúall exceptHSK 7, d, 20 strokes, rank #17677, Very Hard
唯独wéidúuniqueHSK 7, d, 20 strokes, rank #17677, Very Hard
wéidú(wei2du2) T2
  1. 1only
  2. 2just (i.e. it is only that...)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

唯独(唯獨)wéidú(wei2du2)

唯独 (wéi dú) is used to express exclusivity, meaning 'only' or 'just' in certain contexts. It often emphasizes that no other options or exceptions are considered, making it a strong term for uniqueness or singularity.

Strokes20Frequency#17677DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of uniqueness is often celebrated, especially in arts and crafts, where a 'one-of-a-kind' piece is highly valued. 唯独 captures the essence of such cultural appreciation for individuality.

Memory Tip

Imagine a unique 'only' flower in a vast garden, standing out among all others. The character 唯 (wéi) resembles a lone person standing out, while 独 (dú) evokes the image of solitude, reinforcing the idea of being 'just one' or 'only this'.

Meanings of 唯独

wéidú(wei2du2)
1only
2just (i.e. it is only that...)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 唯独

唯独Simplified
唯獨Traditional
20Strokes
—Radical
副词fùcíadverb (adv.)Part of Speech
#17677Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 唯独

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Podcast: 唯独

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AI Study Notes for 唯独

Quick Contrast

仅仅 (jǐnjǐn) - use 唯独 when emphasizing exclusivity among options, while 仅仅 is more about a minimal amount without that exclusivity.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 唯独 with similar terms like 仅仅 (jǐn jǐn), which means 'merely' or 'just'. 唯独 is more exclusive and often used in formal contexts. It frequently collocates with phrases indicating exceptions or unique circumstances.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 唯独 connects well with other advanced vocabulary describing exclusivity, such as 仅 (jǐn) and 特殊 (tè shū). Students should focus on understanding its usage in complex sentences to express nuanced meanings.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse 唯独 in sentences where a softer term like 只是 would be more appropriate. For example, saying '我唯独喜欢这个' (I only like this) can be too strong if there are other preferences; consider using '我只是喜欢这个' instead.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 唯独

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Component Characters

唯wéi-ism
HSK 711 strokes口
View full entry
独dúalone
HSK 79 strokes犭
View full entry

How to say only in Chinese

“only” in Chinese is唯独wéidú

唯独 (wéi dú) is used to express exclusivity, meaning 'only' or 'just' in certain contexts. It often emphasizes that no other options or exceptions are considered, making it a strong term for uniqueness or singularity.

When to use 唯独

Be careful not to confuse 唯独 with similar terms like 仅仅 (jǐn jǐn), which means 'merely' or 'just'. 唯独 is more exclusive and often used in formal contexts. It frequently collocates with phrases indicating exceptions or unique circumstances.

唯独 or something close to it

仅仅 (jǐnjǐn) - use 唯独 when emphasizing exclusivity among options, while 仅仅 is more about a minimal amount without that exclusivity.

What learners get wrong

Learners often misuse 唯独 in sentences where a softer term like 只是 would be more appropriate. For example, saying '我唯独喜欢这个' (I only like this) can be too strong if there are other preferences; consider using '我只是喜欢这个' instead.

Write 唯独

唯
独

Practice writing 唯独 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 唯独

唯独 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.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

全班同学都在认真听讲,____他在睡觉。

The whole class is listening attentively — only he is sleeping.

Example Sentences for 唯独 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
donly7
1
唯独她俏皮的眼神使事情露馅儿了。

wéi dú tā qiào pí de yǎn shén shǐ shì qíng lòu xiàn ér le。

The only giveaway was the look of amusement in her eyes.
2
会议上所有人都表示支持,唯独他提出了质疑。

Huìyì shàng suǒyǒu rén dōu biǎoshì zhīchí, wéidú tā tíchūle zhìyí.

Everyone at the meeting expressed support, only he raised doubts.
3
所有的灯都熄灭了,唯独客厅的灯还亮着。

Suǒyǒu de dēng dōu xīmièle, wéidú kètīng de dēng hái liàngzhe.

All the lights were turned off, only the living room light was still on.
4
他什么都不怕,唯独怕蜘蛛。

Tā shénme dōu bù pà, wéidú pà zhīzhū.

He fears nothing, only spiders.
5
所有员工都参加了培训,唯独他缺席。

Suǒyǒu yuángōng dōu cānjiāle péixùn, wéidú tā quēxí.

All the employees attended the training, only he was absent.
6
她每天都很快乐,唯独下雨天例外。

Tā měitiān dōu hěn kuàilè, wéidú xiàyǔ tiān lìwài.

She is happy every day, except on rainy days.
7
其他人都在笑,唯独她保持了严肃。

Qítā rén dōu zài xiào, wéidú tā bǎochíle yánsù.

Everyone else was laughing, only she remained serious.
djust (i.e. it is only that...)3
8
他每次考试都很顺利,唯独数学让他头疼。

Tā měi cì kǎoshì dōu hěn shùnlì, wéidú shùxué ràng tā tóuténg.

He does well in every exam, it's just that math gives him a headache.
9
我们都同意这个计划,唯独经理有不同意见。

Wǒmen dōu tóngyì zhège jìhuà, wéidú jīnglǐ yǒu bùtóng yìjiàn.

We all agree with the plan, it's just the manager who has a different opinion.
10
大家都到齐了,唯独小李还没来。

Dàjiā dōu dào qí le, wéidú xiǎo Lǐ hái méi lái.

Everyone has arrived, it's just Xiao Li who hasn't come yet.

Frequently Asked Questions about 唯独

Yes, while it's more common in formal contexts, it can also be used informally to emphasize exclusivity.

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