Expressing “only” by using adverbs
The adverbs 光, 仅, 仅仅, 就 and 净 have a similar meaning: “only”. Let's look at the differences and features of their usage.
The adverb 光
We can use the adverb 光 
before the subject or the predicate, depending on what exactly needs to be emphasized.
For example, “he praised only me” or “he just praised me, no one else”.
before the subject or the predicate, depending on what exactly needs to be emphasized.
For example, “he praised only me” or “he just praised me, no one else”.Examples
他光吃米饭, 不吃肉
He only eats rice and does not eat meat
tā guāng chī mǐfàn, bù chī ròu
光他吃米饭, 其他人都不吃米饭
Only he eats rice. No one else eats rice
guāng tā chī mǐfàn, qítā rén dōu bù chī mǐfàn
To make the negation we should put the negative particle 不 before 光.
before 光.Examples
充分休息不光是睡眠
Getting good rest is not only about the sleep
shōngfèn xiūxi bùguāng shì shuō shuìmián
We also use 不光 in the structure with the meaning “not only..., but also…”. It may collocate with conjunctions such as:
而且
还
也
还
也 Scheme
不光
...
而且/还/也
...
Sentences with this structure can have one or two subjects.
If there is one subject, it should be stated before the whole structure.
If there are two subjects, the first subject is stated right after 不光 and the second subject is stated before 还 or 也. For 而且, the subject may be stated either before or after it.
Examples
这本书不光有趣，而且很有启发性
This book is not only interesting, but also very inspiring
zhè běn shū bù guāng yǒuqù, érqiě hén yǒu qǐfāxìng
不光是男子崇拜他，女人也是一样
He is admired not only by men but also by women
bùguāng shì nánzǐ chóngbài tā, nǚrén yě shì yíyàng
The adverbs 仅 and 仅仅
The adverbs 仅 and 仅仅 "only, barely" should be stated before a verb or a numeral. For example, “only five minutes”, “barely enough”.
We can use the adverb 只 after 仅仅 to intensify its meaning.
and 仅仅 "only, barely" should be stated before a verb or a numeral. For example, “only five minutes”, “barely enough”.
We can use the adverb 只 after 仅仅 to intensify its meaning. Pay attention
We mostly use the adverb 仅 in colloquial speech and 仅仅 in written speech.
Examples
时间仅剩15秒
Only 15 seconds left
shíjiān jĭn shèng shíwǔ miăo
这仅仅是我们的要求之一
This is only one of our requirements
zhè jǐnjǐn shì wǒmen de yāoqiú zhī yī
仅仅只用了一天，大楼就建成了
The building was completed in just one day
jǐnjǐn zhǐ yòng le yì tiān, dàlóu jiù jiànchéng le
Pay attention
Remember the combination 仅供 .
For example:
此药膏仅供外用
.
For example:
此药膏仅供外用 We also may combine 仅仅 with 而已:
仅仅…而已 .
We should state 而已 either at the end of the sentence or at the end of one part of a compound sentence.
.
We should state 而已 either at the end of the sentence or at the end of one part of a compound sentence.Scheme
subject
仅仅
predicate
object
而已
Examples
仅仅是打了一个电话而已，我没有帮什么忙
I just made a phone call, I didn't help much
jǐnjǐn shì dǎ le yí ge diànhuà éryǐ, wǒ méiyǒu bāng shénme máng
他是你的朋友还是仅仅认识而已？
Is he your friend or just an acquaintance?
tā shì nĭ de péngyou háishi jĭnjĭn rènshi éryĭ
There's also the phrase 仅此而已 that should be stated at the end of a sentence.
For example:
that should be stated at the end of a sentence.
For example:Examples
只是好奇，仅此而已
Just curious, that's all
zhǐshì hàoqí, jǐn cǐ éryǐ
To form the negative sentence we should use the particle 不 before 仅 or 仅仅.
Examples
我们不仅是女性
We are not just women
wǒmen bùjǐn shì nǚxìng
学汉语不仅仅为了通过考试！
You shouldn’t learn Chinese just to pass the exam!
xué hànyǔ bùjǐn jǐn wèile tōngguò kǎoshì
The adverbs 不仅 and 不仅仅, just like 不光, are often used with 还, 也, 而且.
Examples
我不仅认识他，还很了解他
I not only know him, but I also understand him well
wǒ bùjǐn rènshi tā, hái hěn liǎojiě tā
她来不仅仅是为了工作，也是为了父母
She came not only for work, but also for her parents
tā lái bùjǐnjǐn shì wèile gōngzuò, yě shì wèile fùmǔ
The adverb 就
Pay attention
就 has several meanings. Here we will consider the meaning “only, just”.
has several meanings. Here we will consider the meaning “only, just”. We can use 就 before nouns, pronouns, verbs or numerals.
Examples
我就学过汉语
I only learned Chinese
wǒ jiù xuéguò hànyǔ
你去过什么地方？—— 就纽约和华盛顿
What places have you been to? — Just New York and Washington
nǐ qùguo shénme dìfang? — jiù niǔyuē hé huáshèngdùn
这件事就我一个人知道
Only I know about it
zhè jiàn shì jiù wǒ yì ɡe rén zhīdao
我钱包里就十块钱
I only have ten yuan in my wallet
wǒ qiánbāo lǐ jiù shí kuài qián
We also can use the adverb 只 or 只有 after 就, which emphasizes the restriction and makes it more emotional.
or 只有 after 就, which emphasizes the restriction and makes it more emotional.Examples
为什么这里就只有一个女厕所，男厕所呢？
Why is there only one women's restroom here? And where is the men's restroom?
wèishénme zhèlǐ jiù zhíyǒu yí ɡe nǚ cèsuǒ, nán cèsuǒ ne
你就只学会这些吗？
Is that all you've learned?
nǐ jiù zhǐ xuéhuì zhèxiē ma
Pay attention
We cannot use the adverb 就 in the meaning of “only, just” in negation. The phrases 不就 and 不就是 have the meaning “isn’t that?”.
The adverb 净
We can use 净 either before verbs or nouns. It is used when someone is dissatisfied with something.
either before verbs or nouns. It is used when someone is dissatisfied with something.Examples
这里净是垃圾，都没地方站
The place is full of garbage. There is no place to stand
zhèlǐ jìng shì lèsè, dōu méi dìfang zhàn
他贪玩净想着电影
The only thing he thinks about is movies
tā tānwán jìng xiǎngzhe diànyǐng
净剩下棉花了
There is only cotton left
jìng shèngxià miánhua le
The adverbs 只 and 只是
The adverbs 只 and 只是 have the same meaning. You can learn more about them here ↓