只【zhǐ】

只 means "only". Like other adverbs, it goes before the verb, and it stays there even when English puts "only" in front of a noun.

• × 我喝只咖啡 → 我只喝咖啡

With a number

只 + verb + a number makes the amount small.

Before 会, 能 and 想

只 goes in front of these verbs: 只会, 只能, 只想.

"Only" a person: 只有

只 can't go before the subject. To limit who does something, put 只有 in front of the person.

• × 只我去了 → 只有我去了

只 as a measure word

The same character read 只 is a measure word, for animals and for one of a pair: 一只猫, 一只手. It's a different word with a different tone.