nothing but; only; simply
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesadverb
nothing but; only; simply; no more than
Used to minimize or downplay the significance of something, often suggesting that the situation is less serious or complex than it might appear. Frequently appears in the pattern '无非是……罢了/而已'.
Yuàn院
zi子
lǐ里
zhòng种
de的
wú无
fēi非
shì是
fèng凤
xiān仙
huā花
hé和
jī鸡
guān冠
huā花
。
The only things planted in the courtyard are balsam and cockscomb flowers.
Wǒ我
wú无
fēi非
shì是
xiǎng想
gěi给
tā他
tí提
gè个
xǐng醒
bà罢
le了
。
I simply wanted to give him a gentle reminder, that's all.
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Zhè这
wú无
fēi非
shì是
gè个
jiè借
kǒu口
ér而
yǐ已
，
bié别
dàng当
zhēn真
。
This is nothing but an excuse, so don't take it seriously.
Tā他
shuō说
de的
wú无
fēi非
shì是
lǎo老
shēng生
cháng常
tán谈
，
méi没
shén什
me么
xīn新
yì意
。
What he said was nothing but platitudes, with nothing new to offer.