Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 8: 14/18

しか～ない

There's only, Nothing but

Structure

Noun + しか + Verb［ない］

Details

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    一般

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)はまだ3人(にん)しか捕(つか)まっていない。
    Only 3 of the criminals have been caught so far.
  • この店(みせ)は牛丼(ぎゅうどん)しか置(お)いていない。
    This store only has gyudon.
  • 釣(つ)りに行(い)って、一匹(いっぴき)しか釣(つ)れないと悲(かな)しくなる。
    I get sad when I go fishing and only catch one fish.
Caution
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)から雨(あめ)が降(ふ)るから、今日(きょう)に行(い)くしかない。
    Since it will start raining tomorrow, we have no choice but to go today.

Synonyms

Examples

  • 遠(とお)いので、車(くるま)で行(い)くことしかできない。

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

    Since Verb→Noun + しかない implies inability, using の as a nominalizer cannot work here.

    • 「はい」と「いいえ」しか言(い)わない人(ひと)と話(はな)しにくい。

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

      • すみませんが、午後(ごご)しか空(あ)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)に牛乳(ぎゅうにゅう)しか残(のこ)っていない。

          There is nothing but milk in the fridge.

          • 手袋(てぶくろ)を一枚(いちまい)しか見(み)つけられない。

            I can only find one glove.

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            しか～ない – Grammar Discussion

            Most Recent Replies (11 in total)

            • Daru

              Daru

              Because the clause does not affect you actually living there or not, but it does affect the decision of doing so. And since it’s a yes-or-no decision, it can only be positive or negative, not declaring a continuous state.

              Hope this helps!

            • CrisH

              CrisH

              Right, I see! Thanks

            • NearlyRemy

              NearlyRemy

              I’m a little confused about the comment added to the translation of this sentence:

              遠いので、車で行くことしかできない。

              Because it is far away, you can only go by car.
              [Since Verb→Noun + しかない implies inability, using の as a nominalizer cannot work here]

              I’m not sure how の acts differently here, it’s probably a misunderstanding on my part regarding the difference between the two, but at my current level of understanding I translate both options as “you can only go by car”

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