Noun しか～ない

N4

Noun しか～ない

Noun shika~nai

Only ~

N4

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Explanation

The grammar point Noun しか～ない emphasizes the small quantity or exclusiveness of something. It can be translated as 'only', 'nothing but', or 'no other' in English and is used with a negative verb.

Structure

Pattern
Noun + しか + Negative Verb
NounThe noun that is being emphasized.
Examples: リンゴ (ringo), 電車 (densha)
しかParticles used to emphasize the exclusiveness of something.
Examples:
Negative VerbA verb in negative form that follows しか and conveys the meaning.
Examples: 食べない (tabenai), 持っていません (motte imasen)

Examples

Example 1
私はリンゴしか食べない。
Watashi wa ringo shika tabenai.
I eat only apples.
Breakdown
tokenWatashi (I) / ringo (apple) / shika (only) / tabe (eat) nai (not)
Example 2
電車で行くしかないです。
Densha de iku shika nai desu.
There is no other way but to go by train.
Breakdown
tokendensha (train) / iku (go) shika (only) / nai desu (there isn't)
Example 3
彼は一冊の本しか持っていない。
Kare wa isatsu no hon shika motte inai.
He has only one book.
Breakdown
tokenkare (he) / isatsu (one volume) / hon (book) shika (only) / motte inai (has not)
Example 4
この店にはビールしかない。
Kono mise ni wa biiru shika nai.
There is nothing but beer in this store.
Breakdown
tokenkono (this) / mise (store) / biiru (beer) shika (only)

Related Grammar

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