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Expressing 'can only' with 只能 (zhǐnéng)
Negation
Permission & Ability
Structure
Subject + 只能 + Verb
Explanation
The adverb 只能 (zhǐnéng) means 'can only' or 'have no choice but to,' expressing that there is just one available option or course of action. It is placed before the verb to indicate a limitation or lack of alternatives in a situation.
Examples
下雨了又没带伞，我们只能在这儿等一会儿。
xià yǔ le yòu méi dài sǎn, wǒmen zhǐ néng zài zhèr děng yīhuìr.
It's raining and we didn't bring an umbrella, so we can only wait here for a while.
票卖完了，我们只能看下一场了。
piào mài wán le, wǒmen zhǐ néng kàn xià yī chǎng le.
The tickets are sold out; we can only watch the next showing.
时间不够了，我只能先做最重要的事情。
shíjiān bù gòu le, wǒ zhǐ néng xiān zuò zuì zhòngyào de shìqíng.
There isn't enough time; I can only do the most important things first.