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Grammar JLPT Level N4 - Lesson 23

Structure of しか~ない:

Noun + しか + Verb[ない]

Details about しか~ない:

The adverbial particle しか is often compared to だけ, in that it also expresses 'only'. However, unlike だけ, しか can only be used in negative statements. Due to this, しか~ない is regularly translated as 'there's only (A)', or 'there's nothing but (A)'. しか~ない may be used to express numbers, or nouns. In this lesson we will examine nouns.
Like しか~ない, the construction used for expressing numbers, when used before a noun, this expression will mean that nothing apart from that one 'thing' exists. Any verb may be used after しか, but it must be in its ない (or ありません) form.
  • 犯人(はんにん)まだ3(にん)しか(つか)まっていない
    Only 3 of the criminals have been caught so far.
  • この(みせ)牛丼(ぎゅうどん)しか()ていない
    This store only has gyudon.
  • ()()一匹(いっぴき)しか()ない(かな)くなる
    I get sad when I go fishing and only catch one fish.
しか~ない

Usage Notes for しか~ない:

when しかない directly follows a verb, the translation is a little bit different, and means that 'nothing apart from (A) can be done'. This is a separate grammar point that we will study a bit later.
  • 明日(あした)から(あめ)()から今日(きょう)()しかない
    Since it will start raining tomorrow, we have no choice but to go today.

Synonyms for しか~ない:

だけ
Only, Just
を余儀なくされる
To be forced to do something
Number + しか〜ない
No more than, Not exceeding, As few as・as little as, Only
でしかない
Merely, Nothing but, No more than
しかない
Have no choice but, Only, Just
にほかならない
Nothing but, None other than, Simply
ばかり
Just, Only, Nothing but
だらけ
Completely covered in, Full of
だけしか
To emphasize '~only', Nothing but
きり
Only, Just, Since
をおいてほかに〜ない
No...but, Nothing else but, None other than

Example of しか~ない

(とお)ので(くるま)()ことしかできない

Because it is far away, you can only go by car.

はいいいえしか()ない(ひと)(はな)しにくい

It is difficult to talk to people who only respond with 'yes' and 'no'.

すみません午後(ごご)しか()いてないみたいです

I am sorry, but it looks like there is only space open in the afternoon.

冷蔵庫(れいぞうこ)牛乳(ぎゅうにゅう)しか(のこ)っていない

There is nothing but milk in the fridge.

手袋(てぶくろ)一枚(いちまい)しか()つけられない

I can only find one glove.

Grammar same lesson

んだけど

But..., And...
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必要(ひつよう)がある

It is necessary to
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例(たと)えば

For example
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If, When, Whenever, And, [Conditional]
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筈(はず)がない

Hardly possible, Cannot be, Highly unlikely, Improbable
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