光 vs 只

Both 光 (guāng) and 只 (zhǐ) can mean "only," but they are used in different contexts with different nuances. Here’s how to use them correctly:

1. 只 (zhǐ) – "Only," "Just" (Neutral & Common)

Usage:

1), General Limitation

• Used to indicate restriction (only one thing, no others).
• Works with verbs, nouns, or quantities.

Examples:

• 我只喜欢喝茶。 (Wǒ zhǐ xǐhuan hē chá.)
  → "I only like drinking tea." (Not coffee, juice, etc.)
• 他只会说英语。 (Tā zhǐ huì shuō Yīngyǔ.)
  → "He only speaks English." (No other languages.)

2), With Quantities (Emphasizes Small Amounts)

• Often used with numbers to stress "just a little/few."

Examples:

• 我只有三块钱。 (Wǒ zhǐ yǒu sān kuài qián.) → "I only have three dollars." (Very little money.)
• 他只迟到了五分钟。 (Tā zhǐ chídào le wǔ fēnzhōng.)
  → "He was only five minutes late." (Not a big delay.)

Key Points:
✔ Neutral & common (spoken/written).
✔ Emphasizes limitation (only X, not Y).
✔ Often used with numbers (small quantities).

2. 光 (guāng) – "Only," "Just" (Informal, Often Negative)

Usage:

1), Informal Limitation (Often Negative)

• Used in spoken Chinese to imply dissatisfaction ("only doing X, neglecting others").
• Often suggests complaint or criticism.

Examples:

• 他光玩游戏，不学习。 (Tā guāng wán yóuxì, bù xuéxí.)
  → "He only plays games and doesn’t study." (Complaint: He should study too!)
• 你光说不动手！ (Nǐ guāng shuō bù dòngshǒu!)
  → "You only talk and don’t take action!" (Criticism: You should act!)

2), Repeated Actions (Only Doing One Thing Over & Over)

• Implies doing the same thing repeatedly (often annoying).

Examples:

• 他光吃零食，不吃饭。 (Tā guāng chī língshí, bù chīfàn.)
  → "He only eats snacks and doesn’t eat meals." (Bad habit!)
• 她光看手机，不理人。 (Tā guāng kàn shǒujī, bù lǐ rén.)
  → "She only looks at her phone and ignores people." (Rude!)

Key Points:
✔ Informal & spoken (rare in formal writing).
✔ Often implies criticism ("only doing X, neglecting Y").
✔ Used for repetitive actions (doing the same thing too much).

3. Key Differences

Final Summary

Use 只 (zhǐ) for:
✔ Neutral statements ("only X").
✔ Quantities ("only 3 dollars").

Use 光 (guāng) for:
✔ Informal criticism ("only doing X, neglecting Y").
✔ Repetitive actions ("only playing games all day").