This week we answer a question we received from Nurfidhea in Indonesia. "What is the difference between "just" and "only"?

本周，我们回答印尼的努尔菲提亚提出的一个问题。"just"和"only"的区别是什么？

How and when should I use them? Thank you" - Nurfidhea, Makassar, Indonesia Dear Nurfidhea, thank you for writing to us.

我应该如何以及何时使用它们？谢谢——印尼望加锡的努尔菲提亚 亲爱的努尔菲提亚，谢谢你写信给我们。

This is an interesting set of words, because when used as adverbs, they seem to mean the same thing.

这是一组有趣的单词，因为当用作副词时，它们的意思似乎是一样的。

Here are some examples: There is just enough time to listen to one more song.

这里有一些例子：我们仅有足够的时间再听一首歌。

Or: There is only enough time to listen to one more song. She was just a baby when she came to America.

或者是：我们只有足够的时间再听一首歌。她来美国时仅是个婴儿。

Or: She was only a baby when she came to America. I have just one brother.

或者是：她来美国时只是个婴儿。我仅有一个兄弟。

Or: I have only one brother. But that is not always true.

或者是：我只有一个兄弟。但那并不总是对的。

We will look at the times when you must choose one and not the other. "Just" can mean "merely," "barely" or "exactly".

我们来看看什么时候你必须选择其中一个而不是另一个。"Just"可以表示"仅仅"、"就"或"恰好"。

It is also used to describe a time in the recent past, or a simple truth. Here are some examples where you can use "just" while "only" would be incorrect.

它也可以用来描述最近的一段时间，或者一个简单的事实。在以下一些例子，你可以使用"just"，而使用"only"则不正确。

I just made tea. Would you like a cup?

我刚泡了茶。你想喝一杯吗？

Here "just" means recently. When you want to say "recently" you should always use "just".

这里的"just"指的是最近。当你想说"最近"的时候，你应该始终使用"just"。

She lives just north of the city center. Here it means barely.

她就住在市中心的北边。在这里它的意思是"就"。

He just does not have enough talent to sing in the opera. Here it is a simple truth.

他只是没有足够的才能唱歌剧。在这里它是一个简单事实。

The adverb "only" comes from the word "one" and means "alone," or "with no others". A good way to think of this word is that it describes a unique, or singular, situation.

副词"only"来源于单词"one"，意思是"单独的"或"没有其他的"。理解这个单词的一个好方法是：它描述了一种独特或不一般的情况。

Here are some sentences where you can only use the word "only". The gym is only for women.

在以下句子中你只能使用"only"。健身房只供女性使用。

We will go home only if it starts to rain. I love only you.

只有开始下雨了，我们才回家。我只爱你。

A good way to remember the difference is to use "only" for a special or single thing, and "just" for exact ideas and recent events.

记住区别的一个好方法是，表示特殊的或单一的事物用"only"，表示确切的观点和最近发生的事用"just"。

I hope this is just the answer you sought! And now, I have only one request.

我希望这就是你寻找的答案！现在我只有一个请求。

Please send your questions about English to us by email: learningenglish@voanews. com. And that's Ask a Teacher for this week.

请把你的英语问题通过电子邮件发送给我们：learningenglish@voanews。com。以上就是本期《名师答疑》的全部内容。

I'm Jill Robbins.

吉尔·罗宾斯为您播报。