Word
而已 (ér yǐ) — Chinese word meaning
HSK 7
而已 (ér yǐ) is a Chinese word: that's all; nothing more; merely. This page shows its pinyin, translation, example sentences, character breakdown, decomposition, and HSK level.
Meaning of 而已
助 zhù particle
that's all; nothing more; merely
这只是个误会而已。
zhè zhǐ shì gè wù huì ér yǐ
This is just a misunderstanding, that's all.
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Word breakdown
而 ér — connecting particle (forms compound with 已)
Words with this character (29)
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Example
她不仅会说中文，而且会说英文。
tā bù jǐn huì shuō zhōng wén ér qiě huì shuō yīng wén
She not only speaks Chinese, but also speaks English.
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Example
他很努力，然而结果并不理想。
tā hěn nǔ lì rán ér jié guǒ bìng bù lǐ xiǎng
He worked very hard, however the result was not ideal.
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Example
公司改进了管理方法，从而提高了效率。
gōng sī gǎi jìn le guǎn lǐ fāng fǎ cóng ér tí gāo le xiào lǜ
The company improved its management methods, thereby increasing efficiency.
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Example
他不但没有生气，反而笑了。
tā bù dàn méi yǒu shēng qì fǎn ér xiào le
He not only didn't get angry, but instead laughed.
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Example
他生病了，因而没来上课。
tā shēng bìng le yīn ér méi lái shàng kè
He got sick, therefore he didn't come to class.
Show more (+24)
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Example
她完成了本科学业，进而攻读硕士学位。
tā wán chéng le běn kē xué yè jìn ér gōng dú shuò shì xué wèi
She completed her undergraduate studies, and then pursued a master's degree.
-
- 一 one; uniformly (treating things as one/the same)
- 概 generally; universally (in a general/sweeping manner)
- 而 and then; thereby (connecting the manner to the action)
- 论 to discuss; to judge (the action of evaluating or discussing)
Example
每个孩子都有自己的特点，不能一概而论。
měi ge hái zi dōu yǒu zì jǐ de tè diǎn bù néng yī gài ér lùn
Every child has their own characteristics; we cannot make sweeping generalizations.
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Example
至于他为什么离开，我们不得而知。
zhì yú tā wèi shén me lí kāi wǒ men bù dé ér zhī
As for why he left, we don't know.
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- 不 not, without
- 约 arrangement, agreement, appointment
- 而 yet, but (conjunction)
- 同 same, together, in unison
Example
听到这个消息，大家不约而同地鼓起掌来。
tīng dào zhè ge xiāo xi dà jiā bù yuē ér tóng de gǔ qǐ zhǎng lái
Upon hearing the news, everyone spontaneously applauded at the same time.
-
Example
我的钱包不翼而飞了。
wǒ de qián bāo bú yì ér fēi le
My wallet disappeared without a trace.
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- 不 not, without (negation)
- 言 to speak, words (verbal explanation)
- 而 yet, and (conjunction connecting contrasting ideas)
- 喻 to understand, to comprehend (grasp meaning)
Example
诚实的重要性不言而喻。
chéng shí de zhòng yào xìng bù yán ér yù
The importance of honesty is self-evident.
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- 不 not (negation)
- 辞 take leave, say goodbye
- 而 and then, but (conjunction connecting actions)
- 别 part, leave, separate
Example
他昨天不辞而别，谁也不知道他去了哪里。
tā zuó tiān bù cí ér bié shuí yě bù zhī dào tā qù le nǎ lǐ
He left without saying goodbye yesterday, nobody knows where he went.
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- 似 to seem, to appear, to resemble
- 是 to be (correct/right)
- 而 but, yet (conjunction)
- 非 not, wrong, false
Example
这种似是而非的说法容易误导大众。
zhè zhǒng sì shì ér fēi de shuō fǎ róng yì wù dǎo dà zhòng
This kind of specious statement easily misleads the public.
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- 侃 confident and forthright (when duplicated, emphasizes fluency)
- 侃 confident and forthright (duplication emphasizes fluency)
- 而 connective particle linking manner and action
- 谈 to speak, to talk
Example
面对记者的提问，他侃侃而谈，毫不紧张。
miàn duì jì zhě de tí wèn tā kǎn kǎn ér tán háo bù jǐn zhāng
Facing the reporters' questions, he spoke confidently and fluently, not nervous at all.
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Example
学习语言不能半途而废，要坚持到底。
xué xí yǔ yán bù néng bàn tú ér fèi yào jiān chí dào dǐ
When learning a language, one cannot give up halfway; one must persist to the end.
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- 取 to take, to seize
- 而 and then, and (connects sequential actions)
- 代 to replace, to substitute
- 之 it, that (classical pronoun for what is replaced)
Example
手工劳动逐渐被机器取而代之。
shǒu gōng láo dòng zhú jiàn bèi jī qì qǔ ér dài zhī
Manual labor is gradually being replaced by machines.
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Example
他连续工作了三天，疲劳程度可想而知。
tā lián xù gōng zuò le sān tiān pí láo chéng dù kě xiǎng ér zhī
He worked continuously for three days, so his level of fatigue goes without saying.
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- 因 because of, due to (introduces the varying factor)
- 人 person, people (the variable factor)
- 而 and thus, thereby (conjunction linking condition to result)
- 异 different, to differ (the resulting variation)
Example
学习方法因人而异，要找到适合自己的方式。
xué xí fāng fǎ yīn rén ér yì yào zhǎo dào shì hé zì jǐ de fāng shì
Learning methods vary from person to person; you need to find the approach that suits you.
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- 总 overall, general (provides the summarizing aspect)
- 而 and (grammatical connector linking 'overall' to 'speaking')
- 言 to speak, words (indicates verbal expression)
- 之 it (classical particle completing the phrase)
Example
总而言之，学习中文需要耐心和努力。
zǒng ér yán zhī xué xí zhōng wén xū yào nài xīn hé nǔ lì
In summary, learning Chinese requires patience and effort.
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Example
打开门，海风扑面而来。
dǎ kāi mén hǎi fēng pū miàn ér lái
Opening the door, the sea breeze blew in my face.
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- 敬 to respect, to revere
- 而 but, yet (conjunction connecting respect and distance)
- 远 far, distant (to keep at a distance)
- 之 it, them (classical pronoun referring to the object being kept at distance)
Example
他对那些复杂的人际关系总是敬而远之。
tā duì nà xiē fù zá de rén jì guān xi zǒng shì jìng ér yuǎn zhī
He always maintains a respectful distance from those complex interpersonal relationships.
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- 时 time; provides the temporal aspect
- 而 a conjunction particle; creates adverbial meaning of 'at times'
Example
天气时而晴朗，时而多云。
tiān qì shí ér qíng lǎng shí ér duō yún
The weather is sometimes sunny, sometimes cloudy.
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- 显 visible, evident, apparent
- 而 and, conjunction connecting two parts
- 易 easy, simple
- 见 to see, to perceive
Example
这个问题的答案显而易见。
zhè ge wèn tí de dá àn xiǎn ér yì jiàn
The answer to this question is obvious.
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Example
天空乌云密布，继而下起了大雨。
tiān kōng wū yún mì bù jì ér xià qǐ le dà yǔ
The sky was covered with dark clouds, and then it started raining heavily.
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Example
他一紧张就把秘密脱口而出了。
tā yī jǐn zhāng jiù bǎ mì mì tuō kǒu ér chū le
When he got nervous, he blurted out the secret.
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- 脱 to break free, to shed
- 颖 sharp point (of an awl showing through)
- 而 connecting particle (and then)
- 出 to emerge, to come out
Example
她的才华让她在众多候选人中脱颖而出。
tā de cái huá ràng tā zài zhòng duō hòu xuǎn rén zhōng tuō yǐng ér chū
Her talent made her stand out among many candidates.
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- 自 self; from within
- 然 so; in that way (first occurrence)
- 而 and; connecting particle
- 然 so; in that way (reinforcing repetition)
Example
时间长了，两个人自然而然就成了好朋友。
shí jiān cháng le liǎng gè rén zì rán ér rán jiù chéng le hǎo péng you
Over time, the two naturally became good friends.
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Example
对他来说，解决这个问题轻而易举。
duì tā lái shuō jiě jué zhè ge wèn tí qīng ér yì jǔ
For him, solving this problem is effortless.
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- 锲 to carve; represents continuous effort
- 而 and; conjunction linking the action with not stopping
- 不 not; negation indicating the absence of giving up
- 舍 to give up; what is not done in perseverance
Example
他锲而不舍地学习中文，终于通过了考试。
tā qiè ér bù shě de xué xí zhōng wén zhōng yú tōng guò le kǎo shì
He persistently studied Chinese and finally passed the exam.
已 yǐ — stop, cease (indicates limitation)
Words with this character (4)
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Example
电影已经开始了。
diàn yǐng yǐ jīng kāi shǐ le
The movie has already started.
-
Example
这个问题早已解决了。
zhè ge wèn tí zǎo yǐ jiě jué le
This problem was solved long ago.
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Example
她赞叹不已。
tā zàn tàn bù yǐ
She praised it endlessly.
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Example
我不得已才这样做的。
wǒ bù dé yǐ cái zhè yàng zuò de
I had no choice but to do this.
Structure & writing
而 is a component in 3 characters
而 is an atomic character — it does not decompose further.
Stroke order
已 is not used as a component in any other character.
已 is an atomic character — it does not decompose further.
Stroke order