Expressing Exclusivity in Japanese || How to Use しか

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Home B1 Expressing exclusivity with しか

HOW TO USE しか

In this article, we will learn how to use しか to describe exclusivity or uniqueness.

Probably, you may have learned other similar Japanese words such as だけ or のみ.

What is the difference between しか and other similar words? How can you naturally use しか in daily Japanese conversation?

BASIC USE OF しか

しか basically means “only” or “nothing but”.

It emphasizes the exclusivity and uniqueness of something. However, it is slightly different from the English word “only”, because しか is always followed by a negative verb form.

PATTERN

しか + Verb (Negative form)

私の父はブラックコーヒーしか飲みません。	Watashi no chichi wa burakku koohii shika nomi masen.	My father only drinks black coffee.
私は日本語しか話せません。	Watashi wa nihongo shika hanase masen.	I can only speak the Japanese language.
財布にはお金が1000円しかありません。	Saihu ni wa okane ga 1000-yen shika ari masen.	I only have 1000 yen in my wallet.

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この動物はアジア地域にしか生息していません。	Kono dobutsu wa ajia chiiki ni shika seisoku shite imasen.	This animal only lives in the Asia region.
高いスキルが求められるので、この仕事は彼にしかできません。	Takai sukiru ga motome rareru node, kono shigoto wa kare ni shika deki masen.	This work can be done only by him because it requires high skills.
真理はひとつしかありません。	Shinri wa hitotsu shika ari masen.	There is only one truth.
1年も日本語を勉強したのに、ひらがなしか書くことができません。	1 nen mo nihongo wo benkyou shita noni, hiragana shika kaku koto ga deki masen.	I can only write hiragana even though I studied Japanese for 1 year.
夜は健康のためにサラダしか食べないようにしています。	Yoru wa kenkou no tame ni sarada shika tabe nai youni shite imasu.	I only eat salad in the evening to keep my health in good condition.

HOW TO USE だけしか

What is the meaning of the expression “だけしか”? It is a combination of two adverbial particles だけ and しか.

It may sound funny for English speakers because both だけ and しか mean “only”, but It’s a natural expression in daily conversation.

By using the expression だけしか, you can emphasize the limitation or exclusivity of something.

PATTERN

だけしか + Verb (Negative form)

クリスマスプレゼントはお菓子だけしかないよ。	Kurisumasu purezento wa okashi dakeshika nai yo.	Your Christmas gift is only snacks.
今日は野菜だけしか食べませんでした。	Kyou wa yasai dakeshika tabe masen deshita.	I only ate vegetables today.
僕のことを本当に理解してくれるのは妻だけしかいません。	Boku no koto wo hontou ni rikai shite kureru nowa tsuma dakeshika imasen.	My wife is the only person who really can understand me.

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昨日は3時間だけしか寝られませんでした。	Kinou wa 3 jikan dakeshika nerare masen deshita.	I was able to sleep only 3 hours yesterday.
急いでいるので、10分だけしか待てません。	Isoide iru node 10 pun dakeshika mate masen.	I can only wait for 10 minutes because I’m in a rush.
私は人見知りなので友達が3人だけしかいません。	Watashi wa hitomishiri nanode tomodachi ga 3 nin dakeshika imasen.	I am shy around strangers, that’s why I only have 3 friends.
試練に直面している友のため祈ることだけしかできません。	Shiren ni chokumen shiteiru tomo no tame inoru koto dakeshika deki masen.	I can only pray for my friend who is undergoing trial.

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FAQs

What is the difference between しか and だけ?

While both しか and だけ indicate exclusivity, しか is always used with a negative verb to emphasize what is lacking or limited.

Whereas だけ can be used with both positive and negative verbs to simply state limitation or restriction.

Can しか be used with all parts of speech?

Yes, しか can be used with nouns, verbs, and even adjectives, as long as the sentence ends in a negative form.

How does the placement of しか in a sentence affect the meaning?

しか is placed immediately after the word or phrase it limits. The focus of exclusivity changes depending on its position in the sentence.

Is it possible to use しか in formal or written Japanese?

Yes, しか is commonly used in both casual and formal contexts. However, in formal writing, alternative structures may sometimes be preferred.

What are some mistakes when using しか?

A common mistake is forgetting to use a negative verb with しか.

For example, saying 本を読むしかあります is incorrect; it should be 本を読むしかありません.

Can I study Japanese in Japan with LTL?

Absolutely! We offer group and individual classes in Tokyo.

If you’d prefer to learn Japanese from the comfort of your home, you should have a look at our online lessons on Flexi Classes (we even have a 7 day free trial!)