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Expressing "nothing but" with 无非 ("wu2fei1")

无非 wúfēi

Adverb
HSK 5

Structure

无非 + 是 + Verb Phrase 无非 + 是 + Noun Phrase

Definition

副词，表示“只不过”、“不外乎”，强调没有别的选择或可能性。

Adverb meaning 'nothing but', 'only', 'merely', emphasizing that there is no other possibility or alternative.

Usage

通常用于陈述句中，放在主语之后、谓语之前，引出所强调的唯一内容。常与“是”、“就是”连用，构成“无非是”或“无非就是”。

Usually used in declarative sentences, placed after the subject and before the predicate, introducing the only content being emphasized. Often used with '是' or '就是' to form '无非是' or '无非就是'.

Examples

  • 1 他说的无非是些老生常谈。 (What he said was nothing but clichés.)
  • 2 这个问题的答案无非就是两种可能。 (The answer to this question is nothing but two possibilities.)
  • 3 周末的活动无非是逛街、看电影或者吃饭。 (Weekend activities are nothing but shopping, watching movies, or eating out.)
  • 4 他的理由无非是想逃避责任。 (His reason was nothing but wanting to evade responsibility.)
  • 5 这本书的内容无非是重复前人的观点。 (The content of this book is nothing but repeating the views of predecessors.)

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