dim2 zi2點止点止
Jyutpingdim2 zi2
Yaledím jí
Definition
Not only; more than just (often used in rhetorical questions).
colloquialcommunicationdescriptions
How it's used
Functions as a rhetorical device to emphasize that a situation or quantity is far greater than what has been stated. It often carries a tone of surprise or disbelief, implying that the speaker knows more than what is currently being acknowledged. While it can appear in statements, it is most powerful when used to challenge an assumption.
Examples
He doesn't just know English, he knows French too.
Related words
Common phrases
it is not just that simple
Common mistake
Avoid using this in formal writing, as it is strictly a spoken construction. Learners often mistakenly use it as a direct translation of 'not only' in neutral contexts, but it specifically requires an emphatic or rhetorical nuance to sound natural.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
