HSK 6
唯独
wéidú
only
Structure
[Group/Context] + 唯独 + [Noun/Pronoun] + [Predicate]
How it works
唯独 (wéidú) is an adverb used to emphasize a single exception within a group or a specific focus among many options. It is more formal and carries a stronger tone of exclusion or singularity than words like '只' or '仅仅'.
Examples
为了这次面试他做了很多准备，唯独忘了带简历。
Wèile zhè cì miànshì tā zuòle hěnduō zhǔnbèi, wéidú wàngle dài jiǎnlì.
He made a lot of preparations for this interview, only he forgot to bring his resume.
这首歌旋律优美，唯独歌词略显平淡。
Zhè shǒu gē xuánlǜ yōuměi, wéidú gēcí lüè xiǎn píngdàn.
The melody of this song is beautiful; it's just that the lyrics are a bit plain.
全班同学都及格了，唯独他一个人不及格。
Quán bān tóngxué dōu jígé le, wéidú tā yīgè rén bù jígé.
The whole class passed the exam, only he failed.
Common mistakes
Do not use '唯独' to mean 'merely' in quantities (like 'only 5 dollars'); it is meant to single out an exception or a specific entity from a group.
Tip
Think of '唯独' as 'only and alone'—it is often preceded by words like '都', '全部', or '所有的' to establish the group it is providing an exception for.
More HSK 6 grammar
See 唯独 in real Chinese
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