HSK 6
无非
wúfēi
simply
Structure
Subject + 无非 + (是/为了/想) + Verb/Noun Phrase
How it works
The word '无非' (wúfēi) is an adverb used to emphasize that something is 'nothing more than' or 'simply' a specific reason, purpose, or situation. It often carries a tone that suggests the matter is simple, obvious, or even slightly dismissive. It is frequently paired with words like '是' (shì) or '为了' (wèile).
Examples
他这么做，无非是想引起大家的注意。
Tā zhème zuò, wúfēi shì xiǎng yǐnqǐ dàjiā de zhùyì.
He did this simply because he wanted to get everyone's attention.
这种药的成分无非是一些普通的草药。
Zhè zhǒng yào de chéngfèn wúfēi shì yīxiē pǔtōng de cǎoyào.
The ingredients of this medicine are nothing more than some common herbs.
他之所以迟到，无非是为了避开早高峰。
Tā zhī suǒyǐ chídào, wúfēi shì wèile bìkāi zǎogāofēng.
The reason he was late was simply to avoid the morning rush hour.
Common mistakes
Don't confuse '无非' with '并非'. While '无非' means 'nothing but/simply', '并非' means 'is not actually'.
Tip
Think of '无非' as a combination of '不' (not) and '非' (not). Literally 'not not' (a double negative), it implies that 'it cannot be anything else but this,' which simplifies to 'simply' or 'merely'.
More HSK 6 grammar
See 无非 in real Chinese
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