只(ただ)

ただ
adverb/noun
free of charge, merely, only
1. free of charge, gratis
Without cost or payment.
この入場(にゅうじょう)は只(ただ)です。
Admission is free.
只(ただ)でもらった本(ほん)だ。
It's a book I got for free.
只(ただ)より高(たか)い物(もの)はない。
There's no such thing as a free lunch.
Well-known proverb
2. merely, simply, only
Nothing more than; just.
只(ただ)見(み)ているだけです。
I'm just looking.
只(ただ)聞(き)いてみただけだ。
I was just asking.
只(ただ)黙(だま)って待(ま)っているしかなかった。
All I could do was wait in silence.
3. ordinary, common
Not special or exceptional.
只(ただ)の風邪(かぜ)だと思(おも)う。
I think it's just a common cold.
只(ただ)の水(みず)じゃない。
It's not just ordinary water.
彼(かれ)は只(ただ)の学生(がくせい)ではなく、会社(かいしゃ)も経営(けいえい)している。
He's not just an ordinary student — he also runs a company.

只(ただ) has multiple meanings depending on context.

AS "FREE":

  • 只(ただ)で (for free)
  • 只(ただ)でもらう (get for free)

AS "MERELY/ONLY":

  • 只(ただ)〜だけ (just ~, only ~)
  • 只(ただ)の (mere, ordinary)

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • 只(ただ)より高(たか)い物(もの)はない (There's no such thing as a free lunch)
  • 只(ただ)では済(す)まない (won't get away with it easily)

WRITING NOTE:

  • Often written in hiragana: ただ
  • Kanji 只(ただ) or 唯(ただ) less common
general
Added 2026.1.9 21:15 · Revised 2026.2.20 4:09
01500/01756_tada