…而已【éryǐ】

而已 goes at the very end of a sentence and makes what came before smaller than it might sound: "only, that's all". An earlier word – 只, 只是, 不过, 仅仅, 才 – usually marks the same limit, and 而已 closes it off.

Said about yourself, it reassures the listener that nothing is wrong.

With a number, it says the amount is small.

而已 is neutral and works in writing as well as speech. 罢了 and 只不过 cover the same ground; 罢了 sounds more casual.

Always last

而已 closes the sentence. Nothing follows it, not even 了.

• × 我们而已是普通朋友 → 我们只是普通朋友而已
• × 我只是开玩笑而已了 → 我只是开玩笑而已