无非 (wúfēi) is a Chinese expression that means “only” or “nothing but.” It is often used to soften a statement or make it sound less serious, emphasizing that what is being described is simple, ordinary, or not a big deal. The sentence sometimes ends with 罢了 or 而已 to reinforce this casual tone.
1. With a verb phrase – emphasizes that an action is the only thing happening.
Structure:
无非 + (是) + Verb Phrase
2. With a noun phrase – emphasizes that a person or thing is nothing more than what is stated.
Structure:
无非 + 是 + Noun Phrase
无非 often conveys a modest or understated tone, making statements sound more casual or unpretentious.
Sample Sentences
他说的话无非是想提醒大家注意安全，并没有其他意思。What he said was only meant to remind everyone to stay safe; he didn’t mean anything else.
她批评我无非是希望我能做得更好，而不是故意为难我。Her criticism was only because she wanted me to do better, not to make things difficult for me.
你担心的无非是一些小错误，没必要太紧张。What you’re worried about is nothing but some small mistakes; there’s no need to be so anxious.
In a Text
昨天我和几个朋友去爬山，本来只是想锻炼身体，简简单单的活动，结果有人一路上抱怨天气热，衣服不舒服。其实，他无非是想找个借口休息，并没有真的不喜欢爬山。
到了山顶，风景很美，有人说照片拍不好，但无非是想让自己显得有趣罢了。我们坐下来吃午餐，讨论接下来的计划，有人提议去湖边散步，其实无非是想再多享受一下阳光和清风而已。
下山的时候，大家都累了，有人抱怨膝盖痛，其实无非是平时运动少，身体不习惯罢了。回到家后，回想这一天，我觉得无非是一次平凡但开心的出游，值得纪念。
找个借口 (zhǎo gè jièkǒu): to find an excuse
膝盖 (xīgài): knee
Yesterday, a few friends and I went hiking. Originally, it was just a simple activity to get some exercise, but along the way, someone kept complaining about the hot weather and uncomfortable clothes. Actually, he was only looking for an excuse to rest; he didn’t really dislike hiking.
When we reached the top, the view was beautiful. Someone said the photos didn’t turn out well, but it was nothing more than trying to be funny. We sat down for lunch and discussed our next plans. Someone suggested a walk by the lake, which was basically just to enjoy a bit more sunshine and fresh air.
On the way down, everyone was tired. Someone complained about their knees hurting, but it was only because they didn’t exercise much and their body wasn’t used to it. Looking back at the day after getting home, I felt it was nothing but an ordinary yet happy outing—definitely worth remembering.
