(indicates that sth turns out just the opposite of what one would wish) unfortunately / as it happened / (indicates that sth is the opposite of what would be normal or reasonable) stubbornly / contrarily / against reason / (indicates that sb or a group is singled out) precisely / only / of all people
only have ... / there is only ... / (used in combination with 才[cai2]) it is only if one ... (that one can ...) (Example: 只有通過治療才能痊愈|只有通过治疗才能痊愈[zhi3 you3 tong1 guo4 zhi4 liao2 cai2 neng2 quan2 yu4] "the only way to cure it is with therapy") / it is only ... (who ...) (Example: 只有男性才有此需要[zhi3 you3 nan2 xing4 cai2 you3 ci3 xu1 yao4] "only men would have such a requirement") / (used to indicate that one has no alternative) one can only (do a certain thing) (Example: 只有屈服[zhi3 you3 qu1 fu2] "the only thing you can do is give in")
lit. has a name but no reality (idiom) / exists only in name / nominal
咎由自取
jiù yóu zì qǔ
to have only oneself to blame (idiom) / to bring trouble through one's own actions
换汤不换药
huàn tāng bù huàn yào
different broth but the same old medicine (idiom) / a change in name only / a change in form but not in substance
百年不遇
bǎi nián bù yù
only met with once every hundred years (drought, flood etc)
按图索骥
àn tú suǒ jì
lit. looking for a fine horse using only a picture (idiom) / fig. to do things along rigid, conventional lines / to try and find sth with the help of a clue
因小失大
yīn xiǎo shī dà
to save a little only to lose a lot (idiom)
有赖
yǒu lài
(of an outcome) to rely on / to require / can only be achieved by means of
饮鸩止渴
yǐn zhèn zhǐ kě
lit. drinking poison in the hope of quenching one's thirst (idiom) / fig. a supposed remedy that only makes matters worse
临时抱佛脚
lín shí bào fó jiǎo
lit. to clasp the Buddha's feet when danger arises (idiom) / fig. to profess devotion only when in trouble / doing things at the last minute / making a hasty last-minute effort
硕果仅存
shuò guǒ jǐn cún
only remaining of the great (idiom) / one of the few greats extant
lit. to stop after taking just a sip (idiom) / fig. to gain only a superficial knowledge of sth and then stop
识时务者为俊杰
shí shí wù zhě wèi jùn jié
Only an outstanding talent can recognize current trends (idiom). A wise man submits to circumstances.
不求甚解
bù qiú shèn jiě
lit. not requiring a detailed understanding (idiom) / only looking for an overview / not bothered with the details / superficial / content with shallow understanding
一衣带水
yī yī dài shuǐ
(separated only by) a narrow strip of water
量入为出
liàng rù wéi chū
to assess one's income and spend accordingly (idiom) / to live within one's means / You can only spend what you earn.
待价而沽
dài jià ér gū
to sell only for a good price (idiom) / to wait for a good offer
bù guò
