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.
構造
パターン
Noun + しか + Negative Verb
NounThe noun that is being emphasized.
例: リンゴ (ringo), 電車 (densha)
しかParticles used to emphasize the exclusiveness of something.
例:
Negative VerbA verb in negative form that follows しか and conveys the meaning.
例: 食べない (tabenai), 持っていません (motte imasen)
例
例 1
私はリンゴしか食べない。
Watashi wa ringo shika tabenai.
I eat only apples.
分解
tokenWatashi (I) / ringo (apple) / shika (only) / tabe (eat) nai (not)
例 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.
分解
tokendensha (train) / iku (go) shika (only) / nai desu (there isn't)