Scope Adverbs: 光, 仅, 就, 至少
Scope adverbs set the limit of how much an action or quantity covers. At HSK 3, 光, 仅 and 就 all mean only and set an upper limit, with 光 spoken and 仅 formal, while 至少 (at least) sets a lower limit.
In English
光, 仅 and 就 all mean only. They set an upper limit and say that there is no more than this. 光 is spoken and often carries a note of dissatisfaction.
仅 and 仅仅 are written or formal and stress how small a number is. 就 is neutral and can mean only, which is different from the 就 that means right away. 至少 works in the opposite direction: it sets a lower limit and means at least, so there may be more.
If a sentence says there may be more, use 至少 and not 光, 仅 or 就.
光/仅（仅仅）/就 都表示"只"，但方向相同（划定上限），语气/语域不同；至少方向相反，划定下限。
| 副词 | 语域 | 用法要点 |
|------|------|----------|
| 光 guāng | 口语，常带不满 | 光说不做；光他一个人来了 |
| 仅(仅仅) jǐn(jǐn jǐn) | 书面/正式，强调数量少 | 仅仅用了三天；这仅仅是开始 |
| 就 jiù | 中性，强调"只有这么少"，与表"立刻"的就不同 | 班里就他一个人及格了 |
| 至少 zhì shǎo | 划下限，"不会比这更少" | 至少要三天；至少来五个人 |
核心区别： 光/仅/就都是"只有这么多，不会更多"（上限）；至少是"不会比这更少，可能更多"（下限）。句子里如果出现"可能更多/还会更多"，只能配至少，不能配光/仅/就。
常见错误： ❌至少他一个人来了 (至少不能这样直接修饰"一个人来了"表排他) → ✅就/光他一个人来了。
Worked examples
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 他每次都光说不做，一点儿实事都不干。 | Tā měi cì dōu guāng shuō bù zuò, yī diǎnr shí shì dōu bù gàn. | Every time he only talks and doesn't act, not doing a single real thing. | 光 + verb phrase, colloquial register, often with a critical/complaining tone. |
| 这份报告仅仅用了三天就写完了，速度真快。 | Zhè fèn bào gào jǐn jǐn yòng le sān tiān jiù xiě wán le, sù dù zhēn kuài. | This report took only three days to finish — really fast. | 仅仅 is more formal than 光, and here minimizes a quantity (three days) to emphasize how little time was needed. |
| 班里就他一个人及格了，别人都没通过。 | Bān lǐ jiù tā yī gè rén jí gé le, bié rén dōu méi tōng guò. | In the class, only he passed — nobody else did. | 就 before a quantity/noun phrase marks a restrictive 'only,' contrasted against an expectation of more. Different from the 就 meaning 'then/immediately' learned earlier. |
| 这次旅行至少要准备两千块钱，不然不够用。 | Zhè cì lǚ xíng zhì shǎo yào zhǔn bèi liǎng qiān kuài qián, bù rán bù gòu yòng. | This trip requires preparing at least 2,000 yuan, or it won't be enough. | 至少 sets a lower bound — the opposite scope direction from 光/仅/就, which all set an upper limit. |
| 大家都以为至少要一个星期，没想到他仅仅用了两天就完成了。 | Dà jiā dōu yǐ wéi zhì shǎo yào yī gè xīng qī, méi xiǎng dào tā jǐn jǐn yòng le liǎng tiān jiù wán chéng le. | Everyone thought it would take at least a week, but he finished in only two days. | 至少 (expected lower bound) and 仅仅 (actual small amount, beating that expectation) appear together, contrasting the two scope directions directly. |
Word by word
Each word in this pattern on its own: what it does here, the structure, three more examples, and the mistake to avoid.
光 (guāng)
Means only in speech, often with a note of dissatisfaction.
Structure: 光 + verb / noun
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 他光吃肉，不吃蔬菜。 | Tā guāng chī ròu, bù chī shū cài. | He only eats meat and does not eat vegetables. |
| 别光看，你也动手试一试。 | Bié guāng kàn, nǐ yě dòng shǒu shì yí shì. | Do not just watch, try it with your own hands too. |
| 光靠运气是不够的。 | Guāng kào yùn qì shì bú gòu de. | Luck alone is not enough. |
Not: 他吃光肉，不吃菜。 光 meaning only goes before the verb; after a verb it means used up.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 4, adverbs (范围副词).
光 is also explained in: Scope adverbs: 共/全/光/仅/至少 (HSK 4).
仅 (jǐn)
Means only in formal or written language, stressing a small amount.
Structure: 仅 + number / verb
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 这次考试仅有两个人没通过。 | Zhè cì kǎo shì jǐn yǒu liǎng gè rén méi tōng guò. | Only two people failed this exam. |
| 票仅剩三张了，快买吧。 | Piào jǐn shèng sān zhāng le, kuài mǎi ba. | Only three tickets are left, so buy quickly. |
| 他仅用一天就学会了这个游戏。 | Tā jǐn yòng yì tiān jiù xué huì le zhè gè yóu xì. | He learned this game in just one day. |
Not: 他仅我的朋友。 仅 needs a verb such as 是: 他仅是我的朋友.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 4, adverbs (范围副词).
仅 is also explained in: Scope adverbs: 共/全/光/仅/至少 (HSK 4).
就 (jiù)
Means only, in a neutral way, stressing how few there are.
Structure: 就 + number / person / noun
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 这本书就十块钱。 | Zhè běn shū jiù shí kuài qián. | This book costs just ten yuan. |
| 教室里就两个学生。 | Jiào shì lǐ jiù liǎng gè xué shēng. | There are just two students in the classroom. |
| 我就想喝一杯水，别的都不要。 | Wǒ jiù xiǎng hē yì bēi shuǐ, bié de dōu bú yào. | I only want a glass of water, nothing else. |
Not: 就教室里两个学生。 就 goes directly before what is counted: 教室里就两个学生.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 2, adverbs (关联副词); level 2, adverbs (语气副词); level 3, adverbs (范围副词); level 3, adverbs (语气副词); level 4, adverbs (语气副词); level 7-9, prepositions (引出对象).
就 is also explained in: 既然…就…: since/given that (HSK 4).
至少 (zhì shǎo)
Means at least, setting a lower limit.
Structure: 至少 + number / verb phrase
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 去北京至少要三个小时。 | Qù běi jīng zhì shǎo yào sān gè xiǎo shí. | Getting to Beijing takes at least three hours. |
| 这件事你至少应该告诉我一声。 | Zhè jiàn shì nǐ zhì shǎo yīng gāi gào sù wǒ yì shēng. | You should at least have told me about this. |
| 每天至少要喝八杯水。 | Měi tiān zhì shǎo yào hē bā bēi shuǐ. | You should drink at least eight glasses of water a day. |
Not: 他至少只有两百块钱。 至少 sets a minimum and 只有 a maximum, so they clash.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 4, adverbs (范围副词).
至少 is also explained in: Scope adverbs: 共/全/光/仅/至少 (HSK 4).
Compared side by side: 光 vs 只.
What you need first
Every topic in GraphChinese names its own prerequisites, and these are the grammar points this one is built on. If a sentence here will not parse, one of them is why.
The same pattern at other levels
- Scope Adverbs — HSK 1
- Scope adverbs — HSK 4
Questions about Scope Adverbs
What does 范围副词 (Scope Adverbs) mean in Chinese?
Scope adverbs set the limit of how much an action or quantity covers. At HSK 3, 光, 仅 and 就 all mean only and set an upper limit, with 光 spoken and 仅 formal, while 至少 (at least) sets a lower limit. It is an HSK 3 grammar point.
How do you use 范围副词 (Scope Adverbs) in a sentence?
他每次都光说不做，一点儿实事都不干。 — Tā měi cì dōu guāng shuō bù zuò, yī diǎnr shí shì dōu bù gàn. — Every time he only talks and doesn't act, not doing a single real thing. 光 + verb phrase, colloquial register, often with a critical/complaining tone.
What do you need to know before 范围副词 (Scope Adverbs)?
Scope Adverbs (HSK 1). This pattern is built out of them, so a sentence here that will not parse usually means one of them has not landed yet.
What is the difference between 光 and 只?
Both mean only. 光 is more spoken and often suggests complaint, as in 他光说不做. 只 is neutral and can go before almost any verb or number.
How do I say "at least" in Chinese?
Use 至少 before the number or action: 至少要两天 means it takes at least two days. It means there could be more, unlike 就 or 仅, which mean no more than that.
Scope Adverbs is one topic of 829. GraphChinese teaches them in prerequisite order, so this pattern reaches you on the day everything it rests on is proven. The whole course, HSK 0 through HSK 6, is $49 once for lifetime access.
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