How to Write 仅 (jǐn) — Meaning “Only or merely”

Picture a person (亻) who has only one hand (又). This visual reminds you that 仅 means "only" — this person can do only so much with one hand. The simple image of a one-handed person helps link the shape to the meaning.

Write the left radical 亻 first: a left-falling stroke, then a vertical line. Then add the right part 又: start with a horizontal left-falling stroke, followed by a right-falling stroke (捺). Keep the right part compact and slightly lower than the left side to maintain balance.

仅 (jǐn) means "only" and has a right side 又 that looks like a hand with two strokes. 亿 (yì) means "one hundred million" and uses 乙, a single curved hook stroke. 什 (shén or shí) means "what" or "ten" and uses a simple cross 十. Their meanings and shapes are clearly different.

仅 is used to emphasize limitation, like "only" or "merely", in both writing and speech. Common examples include 不仅 (bù jǐn, "not only") and 仅仅 (jǐn jǐn, "just"). It often appears in formal or literary contexts to add precision, such as in news or essays.

Common words containing 仅 include: 不仅 (bù jǐn) — not only; 仅仅 (jǐn jǐn) — Only or just; 仅有 (jǐn yǒu) — Only have or the only.