zi2 nang4只能
Jyutpingzi2 nang4
Yalejí nàhng
Definition
Can only; have no other choice but to.
colloquialdaily actionsdescriptions
How it's used
While 只能 is understood in Cantonese, speakers frequently prefer using 得 or 唯有 to express the same sense of having no other options. Using 只能 can sometimes sound slightly more formal or influenced by written Chinese, whereas 得 is the most natural, everyday way to indicate that a choice is restricted.
Examples
There are no buses here, so we can only take a taxi to leave.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often overuse 只能 in casual speech, which can make them sound like they are reading from a textbook. In daily life, replacing it with 得 or 唯有 will make your Cantonese sound much more authentic and fluid.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
