只能(zhǐ néng)

HSK 32 characters

can only

Character breakdown

Watch how each character of 只能 is written, one at a time. When a character is finished, the next one draws.

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Example sentences

How 只能 is used in everyday Chinese — the speaker reads the whole sentence.

  • 只能听天由命。

    nǐ zhǐ néng tīng tiān yóu mìng

    You can only let the matter take its own course.

  • 这种药物只能外用。

    zhè zhǒng yào wù zhǐ néng wài yòng

    This kind of medicine can only be applied externally.

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