唯 wéi only
only; alone
How to remember 唯: 口 mouth + 隹 short-tailed bird = only. The magician opens his mouth and out flies a white short-tailed bird, the only thing the kids at the party talk about afterwards.
Component breakdown
唯 = 口 mouth + 隹 short-tailed bird
- 口 mouth
- 隹 short-tailed bird
The magician opens his mouth and out flies a white short-tailed bird, the only thing the kids at the party talk about afterwards.
How it is used
- Bound character meaning "only", used mainly in set written expressions rather than alone.
- 唯一 (wéiyī), "the only one", is by far the most common, e.g. 唯一的办法 (wéiyī de bànfǎ): the only solution.
- 唯有 (wéiyǒu) and 唯独 (wéidú) both mean "only" in formal writing, singling out one case among many, similar in feel to written 只有 but more literary.
- More formal/written than everyday 只 (zhǐ).