Noun しか~ない
Noun shika~nai
JLPT N4 Neutral
Formation
Noun + しか + Negative Verb
Expresses 'only', 'nothing but', or 'no other'.
When to use
Paired with a negative verb for emphasis - "nothing but/only", stronger than だけ.
Explanation
The grammar point Noun しか~ない is used to emphasize the small quantity or exclusiveness of something. It can be translated as 'only', 'nothing but', or 'no other' in English. It is used with a negative verb to convey the meaning.
Example sentences
-
I eat only apples.
Watashi wa ringo shika tabenai.
-
There is no other way but to go by train.
Densha de iku shika nai desu.
-
He has only one book.
Kare wa isatsu no hon shika motte inai.
-
There is nothing but beer in this store.
Kono mise ni wa biiru shika nai.
Exclusivity (Only / Nothing But)
- Noun だけ〜〜dakeN5Indicates 'only', 'just', or 'merely'.
- ~だけしか~dake shikaN3Emphasizes the scarcity or insufficiency of something…
- Noun ばかり〜bakariN4Expresses 'only', 'nothing but', 'always', or 'just'.
- ~に過ぎない〜ni suginaiN2Expresses that something is 'just' or 'nothing more than'…
- ~に限り〜ni kagiriN2Expresses limitation; 'only', 'limited to', 'exclusive to'.
- ~にほかならない〜ni hoka naranaiN2Express that something is 'nothing but' or 'none other…
- ~しかない〜shika naiN3Express the idea of 'only', 'no other option but'…
- ~ばかりだ〜bakari daN2Express a continuing state or negative tendency; 'just'…
- Noun を おいて他に Verb ない〜wo oite hoka ni〜naiN1Means 'apart from ~ there's nothing else,' implying the…
- ~のは Noun ぐらいのものだ〜no wa Noun gurai no mono daN1Conveys that 'only (Noun) is the case' or 'nothing but…
Corpus examples (60)
-
I have only a little money about me.
その時、私は一握りのお金しか持っていませんでした。
I had only a small sum of money on me at that time.
私のお兄ちゃんね、ほんと勉強しないのよ。スポーツと友達とつるむことしか考えてないの。
My brother doesn't study at all. All he cares about is sports and hanging out with his friends.
ただただ立ち尽くすことしかできなかった。
I couldn't do anything at all except stand there.
-
You're the only person that can persuade him.
-
That's all I can say at the moment.
-
It took only ten minutes to walk there.
ワニは暑い天候ではオスの子供しか生まないので、子供を産むメスがいなくなるという理由で、これもまた絶滅するかもしれない。
The crocodile, which produces only male young in hotter weather, might die out too because there will be no females to breed.
-
With regard to big inventions, chance has played a very small part.
-
I have only half as many books as he.
-
There are only a few days left before the end of the year.
彼は英語とドイツ語しか話せません。そして私はそのどちらも分かりません。
He speaks only English and German, neither of which I understand.
フランス語はずっと前に勉強したことがあるのですが、今ではボンジュールしか覚えてません。
I studied French a long time ago, but now all I remember is "bonjour."
トムは30の言語で「私はフランス語しか話せません」と言うことができる。
Tom can say "I can only speak French" in thirty languages.
-
Our company only sells quality goods.
-
Tom only speaks French.
-
There was only one other person on the platform.
-
It's the only one there is in the shop.
-
French is the only language I know.
-
At home, we only use French.
-
I only eat halal meat.
私どものオフィスでは、フランス語を話せるのはトムしかいません。
Tom is the only one in our office who can't speak French.
-
The three boys had only two dollars among them.
-
Only six people were present at the party.
政策について聞かれたところ、その候補者はあいまいな返答しかできなかった。
Questioned about his policies, the candidate gave only vague answers.