〜しか〜ない: This means 'only' or 'nothing but'. You always use it with a negative verb. It shows that something is small or not enough.

〜しか〜ない

This means 'only' or 'nothing but'. You always use it with a negative verb. It shows that something is small or not enough.

N4 KMT3NeutralStandardCompound ParticleMixedLimitation And ExclusivityGrammar

Noun + しか + Verb [ない-form]Primary

Noun + しか + Verb [ません-form]

This means 'only' or 'nothing but'. You always use it with a negative verb. It shows that something is small or not enough.

冷蔵庫に牛乳しか残っていない。

There is only milk left in the refrigerator.

NeutralProgressiveNegativeSentence EndingDeclarativeFood & Dining Daily Life

昨日のパーティーには、10人しか来ませんでした。

Only 10 people came to yesterday's party.

PolitePastNegativeSentence EndingDeclarativeDaily Life

親友にしか話せないから、他の人には言わないでね。

I can only talk about this with my best friend, so please don't tell anyone else.

CasualNon PastNegativeMid SentenceAbilityFamily & Relationships Emotions & Psychology

この問題の解決策は一つしか思いつかない。

I can only think of one solution to this problem.

NeutralNon PastNegativeSentence EndingAbilityWork & Career Business & Finance

こんな難しい漢字は、先生しか読めないだろう。

Probably only the teacher can read such a difficult kanji.

NeutralNon PastNegativeSentence EndingConjecturalEducation Literature

This phrase means 'only', but it feels like 'only a little'. It shows you wish there was more. Or it means 'nothing but this one thing'.

This grammar means "only." It shows you think the amount is small. It often sounds a bit negative. "Dake" also means "only." But "dake" is more neutral. It does not sound negative. "Nomi" is like "dake" but more formal. You see "nomi" more in writing.

Don't use this when you mean "only" with a positive verb. For example, you cannot say "これしかある" (kore shika aru).

Contrasts with(2)

〜だけ

This word means 'only' or 'just'. It shows that there is a limit. It tells you there is nothing more.

〜ざるを得ない

This means you must do something. You have no other choice. You are forced to do it.

Less formal alternatives(2)

〜ほかない

This means you have no other choice. You must do something because there is no other way.

〜にほかならない

This means 'it is exactly this' or 'it is nothing else'. You use it to show something is definitely true.

ない形

This is how you make a verb negative. It means "do not" or "will not." It is the casual way to say 〜ません.

ます形

This is a polite verb ending. You use it to show respect. It is the basic way to speak politely in Japanese.

〜だけ

This word means 'only' or 'just'. It shows that there is a limit. It tells you there is nothing more.

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Dictionary

〜しか〜ない

This means 'only' or 'nothing but'. You always use it with a negative verb. It shows that something is small or not enough.

N4 KMT3NeutralStandardCompound ParticleMixedLimitation And ExclusivityGrammar

Noun + しか + Verb [ない-form]Primary

Noun + しか + Verb [ません-form]

This means 'only' or 'nothing but'. You always use it with a negative verb. It shows that something is small or not enough.

冷蔵庫に牛乳しか残っていない。

There is only milk left in the refrigerator.

NeutralProgressiveNegativeSentence EndingDeclarativeFood & Dining Daily Life

昨日のパーティーには、10人しか来ませんでした。

Only 10 people came to yesterday's party.

PolitePastNegativeSentence EndingDeclarativeDaily Life

親友にしか話せないから、他の人には言わないでね。

I can only talk about this with my best friend, so please don't tell anyone else.

CasualNon PastNegativeMid SentenceAbilityFamily & Relationships Emotions & Psychology

この問題の解決策は一つしか思いつかない。

I can only think of one solution to this problem.

NeutralNon PastNegativeSentence EndingAbilityWork & Career Business & Finance

こんな難しい漢字は、先生しか読めないだろう。

Probably only the teacher can read such a difficult kanji.

NeutralNon PastNegativeSentence EndingConjecturalEducation Literature

This phrase means 'only', but it feels like 'only a little'. It shows you wish there was more. Or it means 'nothing but this one thing'.

Don't use this when you mean "only" with a positive verb. For example, you cannot say "これしかある" (kore shika aru).

Contrasts with(2)

〜だけ

This word means 'only' or 'just'. It shows that there is a limit. It tells you there is nothing more.

〜ざるを得ない

This means you must do something. You have no other choice. You are forced to do it.

Less formal alternatives(2)

〜ほかない

This means you have no other choice. You must do something because there is no other way.

〜にほかならない

This means 'it is exactly this' or 'it is nothing else'. You use it to show something is definitely true.

ない形

This is how you make a verb negative. It means "do not" or "will not." It is the casual way to say 〜ません.

ます形

This is a polite verb ending. You use it to show respect. It is the basic way to speak politely in Japanese.

〜だけ

This word means 'only' or 'just'. It shows that there is a limit. It tells you there is nothing more.

Track your mastery

Kumi's KMT system tracks your mastery across kanji, vocabulary, grammar, and reading. Create a free account to use it on 220,000+ concepts.

〜しか〜ない

Patterns2

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Restrictions1

Compare with4

Contrasts with(2)

Less formal alternatives(2)

Prerequisites3

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〜しか〜ない

Patterns2

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Restrictions1

Compare with4

Contrasts with(2)

Less formal alternatives(2)

Prerequisites3

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