しかない
Usually written in kana. Kanji spelling しか無い
having no choice but to ...; all one can do is ...; there's nothing to do except ...; having nothing but ...
Meanings
Expression, I-adjective
having no choice but to ...; all one can do is ...; there's nothing to do except ...- having nothing but ...; there is only ...; having only ...; having no more than ...
Forms
| Plain | Polite | |
|---|---|---|
| Present | しかない | しかないです |
| Negative | しかなくない | しかなくないです |
| Past | しかなかった | しかなかったです |
| Past negative | しかなくなかった | しかなくなかったです |
| Te-form | しかなくて |
|---|---|
| Conditional (ば) | しかなければ |
| Conditional (たら) | しかなかったら |
Example sentences
待つしかない。
I can only wait.
謝るしかない。
There is nothing to do but apologize.
-
I have little money.
-
You are only young once.
-
There was no choice but to sit and wait.
More examples (10)
-
There was nothing to do but wait until the next morning.
-
I have only a small garden.
-
We have only a small garden.
-
I have only half as many books as he.
-
They had no alternative but to retreat.
-
All the man could do was obey them.
-
There is only one book on the desk.
-
They have but the shadow of freedom.
-
He doesn't know any better.
-
We have a margin of just five minutes to change trains.