只是
HSK 3 (exam 2025)HSK 3 (2021)
只是 (zhǐshì) · just
只是 (zhǐshì) means “just; only; but”. It is written with 2 characters: 只 (only) + 是 (to be). It is an HSK 3 word in the current exam syllabus (2025).
How 只是 is built
The characters
只 zhǐ · only
What 只 is made of
- 口kǒu — mouth
- 冂 — frame
- 丨 — vertical stroke
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 冂 — frame
- 八bā — eight
Origin hint: Simple words 八 coming from the mouth 口 (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
是 shì · to be
What 是 is made of
- 日rì — sun; day
- 口kǒu — mouth
- 冂 — frame
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 口kǒu — mouth
- 疋pǐ — foot shape
Origin hint: To speak 日 directly 疋 (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
Example sentences
我只是问一下。Wǒ zhǐshì wèn yīxià.I'm just asking.
这件衣服很好看，只是太贵了。Zhè jiàn yīfu hěn hǎokàn, zhǐshì tài guì le.This shirt looks nice, but it's too expensive.
Questions about 只是
What does 只是 mean?
只是 (zhǐshì) means “just; only; but”.
How do you pronounce 只是?
只是 is pronounced zhǐshì.
Which HSK level is 只是?
只是 is in HSK 3 (exam 2025) and HSK 3 (2021).
Related words
- 只能zhǐnéngcan only
- 只要zhǐyàoas long as
- 只好zhǐhǎoto have to
- 只有zhǐyǒuonly
- 只有才zhǐyǒu…cáionly if … then …
- 只zhǐonly
- 还是háishior
- 是不是shìbushìis it or not
- 但是dànshìbut
- 可是kěshìbut
Learn 只是 with its group
It is part of HSK 3 (2021) · Group 32: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.