How common it is
只能 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
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Pronunciation focus
Say zhǐ néng slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
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.