How to say “that's all” in Chinese with 而已 (éryǐ)

Clause + (éryǐ)

Expressing "that's all" with "而已 (éryǐ)"

HSK 5Sentence Patterns

Rule structure

而已 (éryǐ) is a formal/classical particle meaning "that’s all, merely". It downplays the importance of the statement. Often paired with 只是 (zhǐ shì).

Examples

我只是开玩笑而已。

Wǒ zhǐshì kāi wánxiào éryǐ.

I was just kidding, that’s all.

Practice

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Frequently asked questions

How do you express “Expressing "that's all" with "而已 (éryǐ)"” in Chinese?

Use the structure: Clause + 而已 (éryǐ). For example: 我只是开玩笑而已。 — “I was just kidding, that’s all.”.

What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?

我只是开玩笑而已。 — “I was just kidding, that’s all.”.

Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?

This grammar rule is part of HSK 5.

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