N4 · Particles
だけ, しか and のみ: only
the particles of limitation
だけ states a limit neutrally; しか with a negative verb stresses that it is not much; のみ is the written form.
だけ means "only, just". It follows a noun, a number or a verb and marks a limit without judging it: 水だけ飲みました, "I only drank water"; 見るだけです, "I am just looking". The verb after it can be affirmative or negative, as the sense requires.
しか also means "only", but it always comes with a negative verb: 水しか飲みませんでした is, word for word, "apart from water, I drank nothing". The negative frame gives it a colour that だけ lacks: the amount is presented as small, or as not enough. 百円しかありません is "I have only a hundred yen" — and it is not enough.
The two behave differently with other particles. だけ can be followed by が and を or take their place, and it can come after other particles: 山田さんにだけ, "only to Ms Yamada". しか replaces が and を outright and follows the other particles: 日曜日にしか, "only on Sundays".
のみ means the same as だけ but belongs to writing: signs, forms, regulations, notices. 現金のみ on a till means "cash only". In conversation it sounds stiff. The mistake English speakers make most is with しか: they forget the negative, or they see the negative verb and translate it as "not".
The form
| a neutral limit | 水だけ飲みました。 |
| not more than this | 水しか飲みませんでした。 |
| with a number | 教室に学生が三人だけいます。 |
| with a number, stressing how few | 教室に学生が三人しかいません。 |
| after a verb | 見るだけです。 |
| on a notice | 現金のみ |
The rules one by one
だけ marks a limit and works with an affirmative or a negative verb.
日曜日だけ休みます。I only take Sundays off.
しか must be followed by a negative verb, and it suggests that the amount is small or not enough.
財布に千円しかありません。I have only a thousand yen in my wallet.
しか replaces が and を, and follows other particles.
この花は山にしか咲きません。This flower only blooms in the mountains.
のみ means "only" in written Japanese: signs, forms and formal texts.
お支払いは現金のみです。Payment is by cash only.
After a verb, だけ means "just do this and nothing more".
見るだけでもいいですか。Is it all right if I just look?
A closer look
Two ways to present one fact
だけ and しか can describe exactly the same situation and still say different things. 五分だけ待ちました reports that you waited five minutes. 五分しか待ちませんでした says it was only five minutes — too short, or surprisingly short. The choice shows how the speaker feels about the number.
In speech the two are sometimes combined for emphasis: 一人だけしか来ませんでした, "only one single person came". It is colloquial and adds weight; either particle alone is grammatically enough.
Exceptions and special cases (1)
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だけ comes after できる or 好きな, as in できるだけ or 好きなだけ
it means "as much as", not "only": できるだけ早く is "as soon as possible".
できるだけ早く返事をください。Please reply as soon as you can.
だけ originally measured an extent, and in these set phrases it still means "to the full extent".
How to spot it
- だけ
- しか〜ない
- しかありません
- のみ
- だけで
Example sentences
肉は食べません。野菜だけ食べます。I do not eat meat. I only eat vegetables.
昨日は三時間しか寝ませんでした。I only slept for three hours last night.
このことは山田さんにだけ話しました。I have told only Ms Yamada about this.
少しだけ待ってください。Please wait just a moment.
日本語はまだひらがなしか読めません。In Japanese I can only read hiragana so far.
この駐車場は平日のみ利用できます。This car park can only be used on weekdays.
7 more example sentences
今日は午前だけ働きます。Today I am only working in the morning.
彼はビールを一杯しか飲みませんでした。He only drank one glass of beer.
この店は週末しか開いていません。This shop is only open at weekends.
ここに名前だけ書いてください。Please just write your name here.
試験まであと三日しかありません。There are only three days left until the exam.
会員のみ入場できます。Only members may enter.
一度だけ京都に行ったことがあります。I have been to Kyoto only once.
Worth knowing (1)
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だけで: just by
With で after it, だけ means "just by" or "with nothing more than": 聞くだけで分かります, "you understand it just by listening". It describes how little is needed, not how little there is.
このボタンを押すだけで動きます。You only have to press this button to start it.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
しか only works with a negative verb: the sentence literally says "apart from a thousand yen, there is none". An affirmative verb after しか is simply ungrammatical. If you want an affirmative, use だけ: 千円だけあります.
だけ states the limit; しか with a negative verb complains about it.
Your turn
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