Usage note
只能表示在特定情况下，某件事情是唯一的选择。
zhǐ néng biǎoshì zài tè bīn qí huà xià, mǒu jiàn shì qing shì shì yī wěi de xuǎnzé.
只能 is used to indicate that something is the only choice in a specific situation.
Context note
只能常见于描述限制或唯一性的情况，如规则、选择等。
zhǐ néng jìncān yú miáo shù xiàn zhì huò yīnéng xìng de qíng kuàng, rú guī zé, xuǎnzé děng.
只能 is commonly used to describe situations of limitation or uniqueness, such as rules and choices.
5 examples
我只能选择这个。
wǒ zhǐ néng xuǎn zé zhè ge。
I can only choose this.
他只能等明天了。
tā zhǐ néng děng míng tiān le。
He can only wait until tomorrow.
这里只能停车。
zhè lǐ zhǐ néng tíng chē。
Only parking is allowed here.
你只能买一本。
nǐ zhǐ néng mǎi yì běn。
You can only buy one book.
这个礼物只能送给她。
zhè ge lǐ wù zhǐ néng sòng gěi tā。
This gift can only be given to her.
5 mini stories
小明只能选择蓝色的笔，因为其他颜色都没有了。
xiǎo míng zhǐ néng xuǎn zé lán sè de bǐ， yīn wèi qí tā yán sè dōu méi yǒu le。
Xiaoming could only choose the blue pen because all other colors were gone.
妈妈说只能吃一个苹果，不能多吃。
mā ma shuō zhǐ néng chī yí gè píng guǒ， bù néng duō chī。
Mom said he could only eat one apple and not more.
动物园里只能看到老虎和狮子。
dòng wù yuán lǐ zhǐ néng kàn dào lǎo hǔ hé shī zi。
In the zoo, we can only see tigers and lions.
这个故事只能讲一次，不能重复。
zhè ge gù shì zhǐ néng jiǎng yí cì， bù néng chóng fù。
This story can only be told once and not repeated.
他只能等妈妈回来才能做作业。
tā zhǐ néng děng mā ma huí lái cái néng zuò zuò yè。
He could only do his homework after Mom came back.
Mini dialogue
只能选一个
A
你想要苹果还是香蕉？
Nǐ xiǎng yào píngguǒ háishì xiāngjiāo?
Do you want an apple or a banana?
B
我只能选一个吗？
Wǒ zhǐ néng xuǎn yī gè ma?
Can I only choose one?
只能等
A
我们什么时候能出去玩？
Wǒmen shénme shíhou néng chūqù wán?
When can we go out to play?
B
现在下雨，我们只能等一等。
Xiànzài xià yǔ, wǒmen zhǐ néng děng yī děng.
It's raining now, we can only wait a bit.
Related words and contrasts
contrast
可以
kě yǐ
can; may
可以 means 'can' in a general way; 只能 means 'can only', which is more limited.
contrast
必须
bì xū
must
必须 means 'must' (no choice); 只能 means 'can only' (limited choice).
similar
只好
zhǐ hǎo
have to; be forced to
只好 also shows a limited choice, often with a feeling of 'no better option'.