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只(zhī / zhǐ) — meaning, uses and examples

只zhī

1. measure word classifier: small animals

   树上落着一只鸟。

   Shù shàng luò zhe yī zhī niǎo.

   A bird is perched on the tree.

2. measure word classifier: one of a pair; certain utensils

   他丢了一只手套。

   Tā diū le yī zhī shǒutào.

   He lost one glove.

3. adjective single; solitary (mostly in idioms)

   他独身一人，形单影只。

   Tā dúshēn yīrén, xíng dān yǐng zhī.

   He is all by himself, lonely and solitary.

只zhǐ

1. adverb only; merely

   我只去过一次北京。

   Wǒ zhǐ qù guo yī cì Běijīng.

   I've only been to Beijing once.