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Introduction to Literary Chinese - Lesson 6, Text 3

Adapted from the 1927 book by J. Brandt

Grammatical section.

D. 低等 Limiting particles.

The limiting particles imply to a quality, a state or an action a character of exclusiveness, and correspond very nearly to the expressions: "only", solely", "exclusively" etc.

These particles are:

`僅` `但` `第` `惟` `只` `徒`

Examples of using the limiting particles:


① 僅及一年 A year has barely elapsed.

② 僅幸得免 I have only luckily escaped.

③ 僅足自給 Barely enough to support oneself.

④ 但願如此 I only wish it to be so.

⑤ 但求塞責 Seeking only to evade responsibility.

⑥ 但託空言 Only to make excuses.

⑦ 不第如此 It is not only thus.

⑧ 人皆好之。第余則否。 All like him, only I do not.

⑨ 第不知耳 Only do not know.

⑩ 惟當如此 It must only be thus.

⑪ 豈惟一人 How is it only one person?

⑫ 惟汝是問 You alone are responsible.

⑬ 惟利是視 To care solely for profit.

⑭ 只顧自己 To care only for oneself.

⑮ 只死而已 Death is the only alternative (lit. only to die and that is all).

⑯ 只此而已 Only this and nothing more.

⑰ 只怕此貨仍無銷塲 Only I fear that these goods will still have no market.

⑱ 徒悲無益 Mere weeping is of no awail.

⑲ 徒善不足以爲政 Kindness alone is not a sufficient (qualification) for government (lit. for making government).