JLPT N4 grammar comparison
〜しか〜ない "nothing but / only (with a negative)" vs 〜ばかり "only / nothing but / just (did)"
By Nihongo PathUpdated
The difference
From the 〜しか〜ない "nothing but / only (with a negative)" lesson
〜ばかり "only / nothing but / just (did)": ばかり = nothing but (too much). しか〜ない = only (too little).
From the 〜ばかり "only / nothing but / just (did)" lesson
〜しか〜ない "nothing but / only (with a negative)": しか stresses too little; ばかり stresses too much of one thing.
Side by side
〜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)
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.
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)"
〜ばかり "only / nothing but / just (did)"
bakari · JLPT N4
- Meaning
- (1) N + ばかり: "nothing but"; (2) V-て + ばかりいる: "doing nothing but"; (3) V-た + ばかり: "just did" (#20).
- Formation
Noun + ばかり: お菓子ばかり食べる, 若い人ばかりだV-て + ばかりいる: 寝てばかりいる, 遊んでばかりいるNoun + ばかり + で: 話ばかりで、何もしないCompare V-た + ばかり = just did (lesson 20)
弟はゲームばかりしている。
おとうとは ゲームばかり している。
My little brother does nothing but play games.
彼は文句を言ってばかりいる。
かれは もんくを いってばかり いる。
He is always complaining.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 〜しか〜ない "nothing but / only (with a negative)" and 〜ばかり "only / nothing but / just (did)"?
ばかり = nothing but (too much). しか〜ない = only (too little).
When do you use 〜ばかり "only / nothing but / just (did)" instead of 〜しか〜ない "nothing but / only (with a negative)"?
しか stresses too little; ばかり stresses too much of one thing.