唯独
only (as the one exception); all … except
Structure
大家／别的 （都） … ， 唯独 某人／某事 …
What it means
“Only … (as the one exception)”: it singles out the one member of a group that does not do what all the others do.
How it is built
Group + 都 + …，唯独 + exception: 全班同学都交了作业，唯独小李没交 (everyone handed in homework except Xiao Li). It can stand before the subject or the predicate (唯独不吃香菜).
When to use it
More written and more pointed than 只有. The first clause usually names the group with 都, 人人 or 什么都. Also written 惟独.
Watch out
✗ 我唯独有十块钱。 ✓ 我只有十块钱。 唯独 needs a group to set the exception against; for a plain “only”, use 只有 or 只.
Examples
他想象兄弟们登高时人人插着茱萸，唯独少了自己一个。
He pictured his brothers on the hill, each wearing a sprig of zhuyu, with only himself missing.
全班同学都交了作业，唯独小李没交。
Everyone in the class handed in their homework except Xiao Li.
这家店什么都好，唯独价格贵了一些。
Everything about this shop is good; only the prices are a bit high.
Learn this in Lesson 41 · HSK 5–6: 元宵、七夕与重阳 (The smaller festivals)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
Open the lesson →