Scope adverbs: 共/全/光/仅/至少
Scope adverbs limit the range of an action or a quantity. At HSK 4 they are 共 (altogether), 全 (all), 光 (only, with criticism), 仅 (merely, written) and 至少 (at least), placed before the verb or the number.
这五个副词都限定动作或数量的范围。
| 副词 | 意思 | 用法要点 |
|------|------|----------|
| 共 gòng | altogether | 共 + 数量: 共有30人 |
| 全 quán | all, entirely | 全 + V/Adj: 全家人都来了 |
| 光 guāng | only/nothing but | 含批评含义: 光说不做 |
| 仅 jǐn | merely, only | 书面语: 仅有三个人 |
| 至少 zhì shǎo | at least | 设定下限: 至少要三天 |
位置: 副词直接放在动词或数量词前面。
✅ 我们共花了两个小时。
✅ 光吃不干活是不行的。
Worked examples
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 这次活动共有两百人参加，比上次多了一倍。 | Zhè cì huó dòng gòng yǒu liǎng bǎi rén cān jiā, bǐ shàng cì duō le yī bèi. | A total of 200 people participated in this event — twice as many as last time. | 共 (altogether/in total) summarizes a final count; position: before the verb 有 + number |
| 他光玩手机，什么作业都不做，妈妈很生气。 | Tā guāng wán shǒu jī, shén me zuò yè dōu bù zuò, māma hěn shēng qì. | He does nothing but play on his phone and doesn't do any homework at all — Mom is very angry. | 光 (only/nothing but) carries a critical/negative tone; implies something important is being neglected |
| 要学好一门外语，至少需要坚持练习三年以上。 | Yào xué hǎo yī mén wài yǔ, zhì shǎo xū yào jiān chí liàn xí sān nián yǐ shàng. | To master a foreign language, you need to practice consistently for at least three years. | 至少 (at least) sets a minimum — position before the number or verb phrase |
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.
共 (gòng)
Gives the total amount of everything counted together.
Structure: 共 + verb + number
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我们班共有二十八个学生。 | Wǒ men bān gòng yǒu èr shí bā gè xué sheng. | Our class has twenty-eight students in total. |
| 这次旅行共花了五千块。 | Zhè cì lǚ xíng gòng huā le wǔ qiān kuài. | The trip cost five thousand yuan altogether. |
| 这些书共多少钱？ | Zhè xiē shū gòng duō shǎo qián? | How much is it for all of these books? |
Not: 共我们有三个人。 共 sits before the verb or number: 我们共有三个人.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 4, adverbs (范围副词).
全 (quán)
Means all or entire, covering the whole of the thing named.
Structure: 全 + noun, or 全 + verb
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 全班同学都参加了比赛。 | Quán bān tóng xué dōu cān jiā le bǐ sài. | The whole class took part in the contest. |
| 他把钱全花在了书上。 | Tā bǎ qián quán huā zài le shū shàng. | He spent all the money on books. |
| 房间里全是水，不能住人了。 | Fáng jiān lǐ quán shì shuǐ, bù néng zhù rén le. | The room is full of water, nobody can live in it. |
Not: 全我家人都来了。 全 attaches directly to the noun it covers: 我们全家人都来了.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 4, adverbs (范围副词).
光 (guāng)
Means "only" or "nothing but", often with a hint of criticism.
Structure: 光 + verb
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 你不能光吃肉，也要吃青菜。 | Nǐ bù néng guāng chī ròu, yě yào chī qīng cài. | You cannot eat only meat, you need vegetables too. |
| 他光会说，不会做。 | Tā guāng huì shuō, bú huì zuò. | He only knows how to talk, not to do. |
| 光靠一个人，这件事做不成。 | Guāng kào yí gè rén, zhè jiàn shì zuò bù chéng. | This cannot be done relying on one person alone. |
Not: 我光看书了，同学们都夸我。 光 usually carries a complaint, so praise after it sounds odd.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 4, adverbs (范围副词).
光 is also explained in: Scope Adverbs: 光, 仅, 就, 至少 (HSK 3).
仅 (jǐn)
Means "merely" and limits a number or scope; it sounds written.
Structure: 仅 + number/verb phrase
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 这个会议仅有十分钟。 | Zhè gè huì yì jǐn yǒu shí fēn zhōng. | The meeting is only ten minutes long. |
| 仅今天一天，这里的东西都打八折。 | Jǐn jīn tiān yì tiān, zhè lǐ de dōng xi dōu dǎ bā zhé. | Only for today, everything here is twenty percent off. |
| 他仅用两个月就学会了开车。 | Tā jǐn yòng liǎng gè yuè jiù xué huì le kāi chē. | He learned to drive in only two months. |
Not: 我仅很喜欢这个。 仅 limits a number or scope, not a degree. Say 我很喜欢这个.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 4, adverbs (范围副词).
仅 is also explained in: Scope Adverbs: 光, 仅, 就, 至少 (HSK 3).
至少 (zhìshǎo)
Sets a lower limit: no less than this.
Structure: 至少 + number/verb phrase
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 这个手机至少要两千块。 | Zhè gè shǒu jī zhì shǎo yào liǎng qiān kuài. | This phone costs at least two thousand yuan. |
| 学好汉语，你至少得学一年。 | Xué hǎo hàn yǔ, nǐ zhì shǎo děi xué yì nián. | To learn Chinese well, you need to study at least a year. |
| 你每天至少应该睡七个小时。 | Nǐ měi tiān zhì shǎo yīng gāi shuì qī gè xiǎo shí. | You should sleep at least seven hours a day. |
Not: 至少五个人以上。 至少 and 以上 both say "at least". Use one: 至少五个人.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 4, adverbs (范围副词).
至少 is also explained in: Scope Adverbs: 光, 仅, 就, 至少 (HSK 3).
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.
What this opens up
These patterns list Scope adverbs among their own prerequisites, so they become readable once this one holds.
The same pattern at other levels
- Scope Adverbs — HSK 1
- Scope Adverbs — HSK 3
Questions about Scope adverbs
What does 范围副词 (Scope adverbs) mean in Chinese?
Scope adverbs limit the range of an action or a quantity. At HSK 4 they are 共 (altogether), 全 (all), 光 (only, with criticism), 仅 (merely, written) and 至少 (at least), placed before the verb or the number. It is an HSK 4 grammar point.
How do you use 范围副词 (Scope adverbs) in a sentence?
这次活动共有两百人参加，比上次多了一倍。 — Zhè cì huó dòng gòng yǒu liǎng bǎi rén cān jiā, bǐ shàng cì duō le yī bèi. — A total of 200 people participated in this event — twice as many as last time. 共 (altogether/in total) summarizes a final count; position: before the verb 有 + number.
What do you need to know before 范围副词 (Scope adverbs)?
Scope Adverbs (HSK 3). 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 does 范围副词 (Scope adverbs) lead to?
Scope Adverb (HSK 5). Each of them names 范围副词 (Scope adverbs) among its own prerequisites.
What is the difference between 光 and 只?
只 is neutral. 光 often carries criticism: 光说不做 means "all talk and no action". Use 只 when you simply state a limit, like 我只喝了一杯.
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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