只不过…(而已): merely, just
副词 / adverbs
Tone colorsā tone 1á tone 2ǎ tone 3à tone 4a neutral
S + 只不过 + 是/V + … + (而已/罢了)
只不过 minimises: "merely", "just". Often paired with a final 而已 (written) or 罢了 (literary-spoken): "and nothing more".
It also introduces a small reservation after praise: 这个办法很好，只不过费用高了点儿 ("…except it's a bit pricey").
Examples
我只不过是开个玩笑而已，你别当真。
Wǒ zhǐbúguò shì kāi ge wánxiào éryǐ, nǐ bié dàngzhēn.I was only joking: don't take it seriously.
失败只不过是成功路上的一站罢了。
Shībài zhǐbúguò shì chénggōng lù shang de yí zhàn bà le.Failure is merely a stop on the road to success.
他人不错，只不过有点儿急躁。
Tā rén búcuò, zhǐbúguò yǒudiǎnr jízào.He's a decent guy, just a bit impatient.
Common mistakes
✗ 而已 alone: ✗ 他是老师而已 → ✓ 他只是/只不过是老师而已 (you need 只 to frame it).
✗ 只不过 for a huge flaw: it minimises, so the reservation must be small.