Usage note
唯一的意思是只有一个，没有别的。
Wéiyī de yìsi shì zhǐ yǒu yī gè, méiyǒu bié de.
Only means there is just one, no others.
Context note
在日常生活中，唯一用来强调某个东西是独一无二的。
Zài rìcháng shēnghuó zhōng, wéiyī yòng lái qiángdiào mǒu gè dōngxi shì dúyīwú'èr de.
In daily life, only is used to emphasize that something is unique.
5 examples
这是我唯一的玩具。
zhè shì wǒ wéi yī de wán jù。
This is my only toy.
她是我唯一的好朋友。
tā shì wǒ wéi yī de hǎo péng yǒu。
She is my only good friend.
唯一的苹果被弟弟吃了。
wéi yī de píng guǒ bèi dì di chī le。
The only apple was eaten by my little brother.
这是唯一的办法。
zhè shì wéi yī de bàn fǎ。
This is the only way.
唯一的蛋糕留给了妈妈。
wéi yī de dàn gāo liú gěi le mā ma。
The only cake was left for Mom.
5 mini stories
小明有一只唯一的宠物狗。他每天和狗一起玩。
xiǎo míng yǒu yì zhī wéi yī de chǒng wù gǒu。 tā měi tiān hé gǒu yì qǐ wán。
Xiao Ming has only one pet dog. He plays with the dog every day.
教室里唯一的粉笔用完了。老师只好用铅笔写字。
jiào shì lǐ wéi yī de fěn bǐ yòng wán le。 lǎo shī zhǐ hǎo yòng qiān bǐ xiě zì。
The only chalk in the classroom was used up. The teacher had to write with a pencil.
小红是班上唯一会弹钢琴的学生。她表演给大家听。
xiǎo hóng shì bān shàng wéi yī huì tán gāng qín de xué shēng。 tā biǎo yǎn gěi dà jiā tīng。
Xiao Hong is the only student in class who can play the piano. She performed for everyone.
花园里唯一的花开了。它非常美丽。
huā yuán lǐ wéi yī de huā kāi le。 tā fēi cháng měi lì。
The only flower in the garden bloomed. It was very beautiful.
我唯一的愿望是学会游泳。爸爸答应教我。
wǒ wéi yī de yuàn wàng shì xué huì yóu yǒng。 bà ba dā ying jiào wǒ。
My only wish is to learn to swim. Dad promised to teach me.
Mini dialogue
唯一的朋友
A
你是我唯一的朋友。
Nǐ shì wǒ wéiyī de péngyou.
You are my only friend.
B
真的吗？我很高兴。
Zhēn de ma? Wǒ hěn gāoxìng.
Really? I'm very happy.
唯一的机会
A
这是唯一的机会，我们要努力。
Zhè shì wéiyī de jīhuì, wǒmen yào nǔlì.
This is the only chance, we must work hard.
B
对，唯一的机会不能错过。
Duì, wéiyī de jīhuì bù néng cuòguò.
Right, the only chance cannot be missed.
Related words and contrasts
similar
独一无二
dú yī wú èr
unique
独一无二 means one of a kind, stronger than 唯一.
related
仅仅
jǐn jǐn
merely
仅仅 means only in the sense of just, not many.
opposite
许多
xǔ duō
many
许多 means many, opposite of only one.