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〜だけ(の)

as much as (possible); enough to

Potential / たい / Verb + だけ · だけの + Noun

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だけ also means "as much as", setting the limit by what's possible or wanted: やれるだけのことはやった, "I did everything I could". 持てるだけ持って帰っていいよ, "take home as much as you can carry".

It's common after potential verbs (できる, 持てる, 食べられる), after たい (言いたいだけ言う, "say as much as you want") and after 好きな (好きなだけ, "as much as you like").

だけの before a noun means "enough to": 歌手になるだけの才能がある, "she has enough talent to become a singer".

This is the same だけ as "only"; here it marks the full extent rather than a narrow limit.

Examples

  • やれるだけのことはやった。

    I did everything I could.

  • 持もてるだけ持もって帰かえっていいよ。

    Take home as much as you can carry.

  • 好すきなだけ食たべてください。

    Eat as much as you like.

  • 言いいたいだけ言いって、帰かえってしまった。

    He said everything he wanted to say, then left.

  • 彼女かのじょは歌手かしゅになるだけの才能さいのうがある。

    She has enough talent to become a singer.

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