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JLPT N4 grammar comparison

〜だけ "only / just" vs 〜しか〜ない "nothing but / only (with a negative)"

By Nihongo PathUpdated

The difference

From the 〜だけ "only / just" lesson

〜しか〜ない "nothing but / only (with a negative)": しか needs a negative verb and implies insufficiency. だけ is neutral.

From the 〜しか〜ない "nothing but / only (with a negative)" lesson

〜だけ "only / just": だけ works with affirmative verbs and is neutral. しか always needs a negative and implies insufficiency.

Side by side

〜だけ "only / just"

dake · JLPT N4

Meaning
Limits to a quantity or thing (neutral tone).
Formation
Noun / number + だけ: 一人だけ, 日曜日だけV-plain + だけ: 見るだけ, 見ただけい-adjective + だけ: 安いだけな-adjective + なだけ: 便利なだけParticles: だけが / だけを (or だけ alone), にだけ / とだけ

  1. 教室には学生が一人だけいます。

    きょうしつには がくせいが ひとりだけ います。

    There is only one student in the classroom.

  2. 見るだけで、買いません。

    みるだけで、かいません。

    I'm just looking, not buying.

Full lesson on 〜だけ "only / just"

〜しか〜ない "nothing but / only (with a negative)"

shika ~nai · JLPT N4

Meaning
"Only", with the nuance that the amount is less than expected or insufficient.
Formation
Noun + しか + negative: 百円しかない, 野菜しか食べないしか replaces が / をOther particles + しか: にしか, でしか, としか, からしかV-dictionary + しかない = have no choice but to (歩くしかない)

  1. 財布に百円しかない。

    さいふに ひゃくえんしか ない。

    I have only 100 yen in my wallet.

  2. 彼は野菜しか食べません。

    かれは やさいしか たべません。

    He eats nothing but vegetables.

Full lesson on 〜しか〜ない "nothing but / only (with a negative)"

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between 〜だけ "only / just" and 〜しか〜ない "nothing but / only (with a negative)"?

しか needs a negative verb and implies insufficiency. だけ is neutral.

When do you use 〜しか〜ない "nothing but / only (with a negative)" instead of 〜だけ "only / just"?

だけ works with affirmative verbs and is neutral. しか always needs a negative and implies insufficiency.