LEARN + CHINESE / 245 of 300 HSK 7–9
A Bit Much, or Nothing More 未免
“万万不能把密码告诉别人”—under no circumstances should you share the password. 未免 can judge something as a bit much; 无非 reduces it to “nothing more than.” These words narrow or evaluate the claim, each with a different force.
Make a Strong Warning
万万 is most often used with a negative such as 不 or 没想到. It strengthens a warning or emphasizes how unexpected something was.
我万万没想到我会得第一名。
wǒ wànwàn méi xiǎngdào wǒ huì dé dì yī míng。
Never did I dream of winning first prize.
Hint · 힌트
万万不可 is a firm “absolutely not.” In ordinary positive statements, 万万 is uncommon.
Say That Something Goes Too Far
未免 often appears before 太 plus an adjective. The speaker suggests that a quality or action is excessive, often with mild criticism.
你也未免太小气了。
nǐ yě wèimiǎn tài xiǎoqì le.
You are really a bit too stingy.
Hint · 힌트
未免 is not simply “a little”; it signals that the degree is more than appropriate.
Reduce Something to Its Main Explanation
无非 means “nothing more than” or “simply.” It narrows an explanation to a small set of motives or facts.
他这么做无非是为了钱。
tā zhème zuò wúfēi shì wèile qián.
He did this simply for money.
Hint · 힌트
无非 often appears before 是 or 为了 to introduce the speaker’s simplified account.
In Real Life
Look at what comes next: 万万 strengthens a prohibition or surprise, 未免 often leads into 太 plus an adjective, and 无非 narrows an explanation.
Vocabulary
| Chinese | English |
|---|---|
wànwàn | absolutely (usually negative) |
juéduì | absolute; absolutely |
wàngjì | to forget |
xiǎngdào | to think of; expect |
xiǎoqi | stingy; mean |
tài | too; extremely |
guòfèn | excessive; undue |
qián | money |
wèile | in order to |
mùdì | purpose; goal |
yuányīn | reason; cause |
zhǐ | only; just |
zhǐshì | only; just; but |
běnlái | original; originally |
qíshí | actually; in fact |
cuòwù | mistake; error |
jīhuì | opportunity; chance |
shuō | to speak; say |
jiěshì | to explain |
jìnzhǐ | to forbid; ban |
YOUR PROGRESS
Finished this lesson?
Save your place in this course.