而已 éryǐ that's all
that's all; nothing more
How to remember 而已: 而 and yet + 已 already = that's all.
Characters
How it is used
- Sentence-final 'and that's all / nothing more' - 我只是开个玩笑而已 (wǒ zhǐshì kāi gè wánxiào éryǐ) I was only joking, that's all.
- Almost always paired with 只是/不过 (zhǐshì/búguò) to minimize what precedes it; downplays the significance.
- Interchangeable with 罢了 (bàle) but slightly more neutral/written; softens a statement to 'no big deal'.
Example sentences
- 只是感冒而已。 Zhǐshì gǎnmào éryǐ.It's just a cold.
- 只是一场梦而已。 Zhǐshì yīcháng mèng éryǐ.It's just a dream.
- 这仅是你的想像而已。 Zhèjǐn shì nǐ de xiǎngxiàng éryǐ.It's just your imagination.