仅仅…而已
HSK 6- Emphasis
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
The structure 仅仅…而已 is used to emphasize that something is only at that level and no more, typically translated as 'it's merely… that's all'.
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
仅仅…而已 is a fairly formal expression used to emphasize that a matter, situation, or number is "just that and nothing more" — nothing particularly significant or special.
仅仅 means "only/merely," and 而已 means "that's all." This structure is commonly used to express modesty or to downplay the importance of something.
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 这仅仅是我的个人看法而已。繁: 這僅僅是我的個人看法而已。Zhè jǐnjǐn shì wǒ de gèrén kànfǎ éryǐ.
This is merely my personal opinion.
- 他仅仅迟到了五分钟而已。繁: 他僅僅遲到了五分鐘而已。Tā jǐnjǐn chídào le wǔ fēnzhōng éryǐ.
He was only five minutes late.
- 我们仅仅见过一面而已。繁: 我們僅僅見過一面而已。Wǒmen jǐnjǐn jiàn guo yí miàn éryǐ.
We have only met once.
- 我仅仅是开个玩笑而已。繁: 我僅僅是開個玩笑而已。Wǒ jǐnjǐn shì kāi ge wánxiào éryǐ.
I was only joking.
- 这仅仅是一个开始而已。繁: 這僅僅是一個開始而已。Zhè jǐnjǐn shì yí ge kāishǐ éryǐ.
This is merely a beginning.
Common mistakes
- Wrong:他不仅仅是一个学生而已。Correct:他不仅仅是一个学生。
When negating "not only," use only `不仅仅` and omit `而已`.
- Wrong:我仅仅是问问。Correct:我仅仅是问问而已。
而已 combines with 仅仅 to complete the meaning of "that's all" or "merely," making the sentence more natural and emphatic.