<p>但 means '<strong>but</strong>' ; 'only' ; 'just'</p>
<p>只 means '<strong>only</strong>'; 'just'</p>
<p>The difference between the two when they are functioning as 'only/just':</p>
<blockquote>
<p>但 is more literary/ classical; 只 is more colloquial/ contemporary</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Example:</p>
<p>只看不買 (only look but not buy)  - a normal contemporary sentence</p>
<p>但看不買 - it sounds awkward with a classical term mixed in a contemporary sentence</p>
<p>但說無妨 (It is fine, just say it)- a normal classical sentence</p>
<p>只說無妨 - it sounds awkward with a contemporary term mixed in a classical sentence</p>
<blockquote>
<p>但 can be short for 但願, but 只 cannot</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Example:</p>
<p>但得我一家平安 = only (wish) my family is safe -- 但 here is short for 但願 (only/ just wish)</p>
<p>只得我一家平安 = only my family is safe-- 只 here cannot be short for 只願 (only/ just wish)</p>
<blockquote>
<p>In some context. they are interchangeable:</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Example:</p>
<ul>
<li>但求我一家平安 = 只求我一家平安 -- with the verb 求(wish),  both 但求 and 只求 mean 'only/ just wish'</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-07-27T10:14:55.060Z
2021-07-27T10:14:55.060Z
Tang Ho
<p>Let me just supplement Tang Ho's perfect answer with two other examples.</p>
<ol>
<li>但願人長久，千里共嬋娟 from the Song poem 水調歌頭, 蘇軾</li>
</ol>
<p>which means '(I) just wish him (author's brother) a long life, and that we look at the same beautiful moon despite being thousands of miles apart.'</p>
<ol start="2">
<li>但得有三餐足夠，為人樂觀好少掛憂 from the Cantonese song 杯酒當歌, 許冠傑</li>
</ol>
<p>which means 'I just need 3 good meals a day and nothing more. I am optimistic and seldom worried.'</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-07-28T07:38:14.777Z
2021-07-28T07:38:14.777Z
Brian Cheung
<p>I see that 但 means &quot;only&quot; besides its typical meaning &quot;but&quot;. So what is the difference between 但 and 只 and when do you use 但 with the meaning &quot;only&quot;?</p>

<meaning><difference>
What is the difference between 但 and 只?
# What is the difference between 但 and 只?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-07-27)

I see that 但 means "only" besides its typical meaning "but". So what is the difference between 但 and 只 and when do you use 但 with the meaning "only"?

**Tags:** meaning, difference

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-07-27. Score: 1

但 means '**but**' ; 'only' ; 'just'

只 means '**only**'; 'just'

The difference between the two when they are functioning as 'only/just':

> 但 is more literary/ classical; 只 is more colloquial/ contemporary

Example:

只看不買 (only look but not buy) - a normal contemporary sentence

但看不買 - it sounds awkward with a classical term mixed in a contemporary sentence

但說無妨 (It is fine, just say it)- a normal classical sentence

只說無妨 - it sounds awkward with a contemporary term mixed in a classical sentence

> 但 can be short for 但願, but 只 cannot

Example:

但得我一家平安 = only (wish) my family is safe -- 但 here is short for 但願 (only/ just wish)

只得我一家平安 = only my family is safe-- 只 here cannot be short for 只願 (only/ just wish)

> In some context. they are interchangeable:

Example:

* 但求我一家平安 = 只求我一家平安 -- with the verb 求(wish), both 但求 and 只求 mean 'only/ just wish'


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### Answer by username_2 on 2021-07-28. Score: 1

Let me just supplement Tang Ho's perfect answer with two other examples.

1. 但願人長久，千里共嬋娟 from the Song poem 水調歌頭, 蘇軾

which means '(I) just wish him (author's brother) a long life, and that we look at the same beautiful moon despite being thousands of miles apart.'

2. 但得有三餐足夠，為人樂觀好少掛憂 from the Cantonese song 杯酒當歌, 許冠傑

which means 'I just need 3 good meals a day and nothing more. I am optimistic and seldom worried.'


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