只能 zhǐnéng

1. Obliged (no other choice)

These meanings come from the same dictionary that powers the Chinese to Pinyin translator and the Chinese to English translator, so a whole sentence containing 只能 will read it the same way this page does.

只能 is written with 2 characters. Chinese words are usually easier to remember once you can see what each part contributes.

This entry has no example sentence of its own yet, but 只能 is used in the stories, phrases and grammar examples published elsewhere on this site — all of them are collected here, with pinyin, English and audio.

These are also written zhineng without tone marks. Tones and context are what keep them apart — which is why the tone is part of the word, not an accent on it.

Train the difference in the Tone Trainer or the Similar Sounds Quiz.

What does 只能 mean in English?

只能 is pronounced zhǐnéng and means Obliged (no other choice).

How do you pronounce 只能?

只能 is zhǐnéng in pinyin — written zhineng without tone marks. Press the audio button on this page to hear it spoken by a native voice.

What are the characters in 只能?

只能 is written with 2 characters: 只 (zhī) Only (merely - but - measure word for a pair), 能 (néng) Can (ability - capable - energy). Knowing the parts is usually how the whole word becomes memorable.