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HSK 2.0 Nível 6+ HSK 3.0 Nível 6+ 8 min de leitura 4 palavras de foco

Limiting with 无非 and 不过

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

Limiting with 无非 and 不过 cover

Pattern

无非/不过 + limited explanation

Reduce something to its real scope or motive.

他的理由无非是时间不够。

When to use Limiting with 无非 and 不过

无非 means “nothing more than.” 不过 can also limit the importance or size of something. Both can sound dismissive if used sharply.

这不过是一个临时安排。

This is merely a temporary arrangement.

所谓困难,无非是缺少准备。

The so-called difficulty is nothing more than a lack of preparation.

我不过提出一个建议。

I merely offered a suggestion.

这些解释听起来无非是借口。

These explanations sound like nothing more than excuses.

Common traps

  • 无非 can sound dismissive; avoid it when you need respect.
  • 不过 has several meanings, including “however”; read context carefully.
  • Use these to limit scope, not to introduce a normal cause.

Vocabulário de apoio

Targeted drill

Practice this exact pattern before moving on.

他的理由 是时间不够。

His reason is nothing more than not having enough time.
Missing grammar piece
Significados
nothing but; no more than