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ADV
（表示比较而言唯一真实、恰当或必要的情况）只，只有
You use only to indicate the one thing that is true, appropriate, or necessary in a particular situation, in contrast to all the other things that are not true, appropriate, or necessary.
例句
Only the President could authorize the use of the atomic bomb...
只有总统才能授权使用原子弹。
...the guidance and discipline that can be provided only by a strong male...
只有强有力的男性才能给予的指导和训练
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ADV
（引出发生的必要条件）只有…（才）
You use only to introduce the thing which must happen before the thing mentioned in the main part of the sentence can happen.
例句
The lawyer is paid only if he wins...
只有官司赢了才支付律师费。
The Bank of England insists that it will cut interest rates only when it is ready...
英格兰银行坚持只有条件成熟才会降息。
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ADJ
唯一的；仅有的
If you talk about the only person or thing involved in a particular situation, you mean there are no others involved in it.
例句
She was the only woman in Shell's legal department...
她是壳牌公司法律事务部唯一的女性。
My cat Gustaf was the only thing I had—the only company.
我的猫古斯塔夫是我所有的一切——我唯一的伴侣。
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ADJ
（孩子）独生的,仅有的
An only child is a child who has no brothers or sisters.
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ADV
(尤用于想要纠正错误观点时)只不过，仅…而已
You use only to indicate that something is no more important, interesting, or difficult, for example, than you say it is, especially when you want to correct a wrong idea that someone may get or has already got.
例句
At the moment it is only a theory...
眼下这只不过是个推测而已。
'I'm only a sergeant,' said Clements...
“我只是一名中士，”克莱门茨说道。
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ADV
（强调数量少或时间短）才，仅仅
You use only to emphasize how small an amount is or how short a length of time is.
例句
Child car seats only cost about £10 a week to hire.
儿童汽车坐椅一周的租金才10英镑。
...spacecraft guidance systems weighing only a few grams...
仅有几克重的宇宙飞船导航系统
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ADV
（强调是其中的一小部分，而非全部）只，仅仅
You use only to emphasize that you are talking about a small part of an amount or group, not the whole of it.
例句
These are only a few of the possibilities...
这些仅仅是其中几种可能。
Only a minority of the people supported the Revolution.
只有少数人支持这场革命。
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ADV
（用于 can 或 could 之后，强调除此以外别无可为）只（能）
Only is used after 'can' or 'could' to emphasize that it is impossible to do anything except the rather inadequate or limited action that is mentioned.
例句
For a moment I could say nothing. I could only stand and look...
我有那么一会儿一句话都说不出来，只能站在那里看着。
The police can only guess at the scale of the problem.
警方只能猜测问题的严重性。
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ADV
（强调希望或愿望）唯有，非常
You can use only in the expressions I only wish or I only hope in order to emphasize what you are hoping or wishing.
例句
I only wish he were here now that things are getting better for me...
现在我的境况好转了，我真希望他能在这里。
We can only hope that the elephants can recover.
我们唯有希望这些大象能够康复。
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CONJ-SUBORD
（用于表示稍加改动或限定）只是，不过
Only can be used to add a comment which slightly changes or limits what you have just said.
例句
It's just as dramatic as a film, only it's real...
这就像电影一样充满戏剧性，不过这是真实发生的。
It's a bit like my house, only nicer...
这有点像我的房子，只是更为漂亮。
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CONJ-SUBORD
（用于含有 would 的从句后，引出未做某事的原因）要不是，若非
Only can be used after a clause with 'would' to indicate why something is not done.
例句
I'd invite you to come with me, only it's such a long way...
要不是路太远，我一定会邀你一同前往。
I'd be quite happy to go. Only I don't know what my kids would say about living there.
我是很乐意去的，只是不知道孩子们会不会喜欢住在那里。
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ADV
（用于不定式前）不料，结果却
You can use only before an infinitive to introduce an event which happens immediately after one you have just mentioned, and which is rather surprising or unfortunate.
例句
Ryle tried the Embassy, only to be told that Hugh was in a meeting...
赖尔试着找了大使馆，却被告知休正在开会。
He raced through the living room, only to find the front door closed.
他飞快地跑过起居室，却发现前门锁上了。
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ADV
（强调行动或行为恰当）完全，真正
You can use only to emphasize how appropriate a certain course of action or type of behaviour is.
例句
It's only fair to let her know that you intend to apply...
告诉她你打算申请，这才算公平嘛。
She appeared to have changed considerably, which was only to be expected.
她看起来变化很大，不过这完全是在意料之中的。
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ADV
（用于动词前，表示结果令人遗憾或不受欢迎）愈加，只（会）
You can use only in front of a verb to indicate that the result of something is unfortunate or undesirable and is likely to make the situation worse rather than better.
例句
The embargo would only hurt innocent civilians...
禁运只会殃及无辜的百姓。
She says that legalising prostitution will only cause problems.
她说卖淫合法化只会引发问题。
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PHRASE
只要（做…）即可
If you say you only have to or have only to do one thing in order to achieve or prove a second thing, you are emphasizing how easily the second thing can be achieved or proved.
例句
Any time you want a babysitter, dear, you only have to ask...
亲爱的，你什么时候需要人帮忙照看孩子，只要开口说一声就行。
We have only to read the labels to know what ingredients are in foods.
我们只要看一下标签即可知道食品的成分。
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PHRASE
刚才；刚刚
You can say that something has only just happened when you want to emphasize that it happened a very short time ago.
例句
I've only just arrived...
我刚到。
The signs of an economic revival are only just beginning...
经济复苏的迹象刚刚开始显现。
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PHRASE
仅仅；勉强
You use only just to emphasize that something is true, but by such a small degree that it is almost not true at all.
例句
For centuries farmers there have only just managed to survive...
几个世纪以来，那里的农民只能勉强维持生计。
I am old enough to remember the Blitz, but only just...
伦敦空袭那阵我已开始记事，但也只是仅仅有些模糊的印象。
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PHRASE
太；极
You can use only too to emphasize that something is true or exists to a much greater extent than you would expect or like.
例句
I know only too well that plans can easily go wrong...
计划很容易出岔子，我太清楚这点了。
When the new baby comes along it is only too easy to shut out the others.
新生儿出世后，其他孩子极容易受到冷落。
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PHRASE
（强调乐意）极，非常
You can say that you are only too happy to do something to emphasize how willing you are to do it.
例句
I'll be only too pleased to help them out with any queries.
我非常乐意为他们答疑解惑。