无非

wú fēi

HSK 2.0 Level 6 HSK 3.0 Level 7 Adverb Uncommon

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Definitions

1. only
2. nothing else

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Word relationships

Synonyms

2 items

• 只是 zhǐ shì 只是 zhǐ shì merely; only; just; nothing but Used to limit a statement to a certain range, meaning 'merely' or 'just'.: merely; only; just; nothing but
• 不过 bù guò 不过 bù guò only Softens a statement, often meaning 'only' or 'no more than'.: only

Usage notes

Collocations

Commonly used with 是 or 就是 in structures like 无非是... or 无非就是..., meaning 'is nothing but...'.

Common mistakes

Learners often misuse 无非 to mean 'no wonder', which is actually 难怪. Use 无非 to emphasize that something is merely the case, without any other possibilities.

Grammar

Guides that feature 无非

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1 guide

HSK 2.0 Level 6+ HSK 3.0 Level 6+ 8 min

Limiting with 无非 and 不过

Use 无非 and 不过 to say what something amounts to, often with a skeptical tone.

Reading: wú fēi Open guide

Example Sentences

1 shown

这 无非 是个小问题。

This is merely a minor problem.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Child Words of 无非

• 无 无 wú: not to have
• 非 非 fēi: to not be; not