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〜しかない

have no choice but to, all you can do is

Verb dictionary form + しかない

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At N5, しか〜ない was "only" with nouns. After a verb's dictionary form, しかない means "there's nothing to do but this": 電車が止まっているから、歩いて帰るしかない, "the trains aren't running, so I have no choice but to walk home".

It often comes with a sense of resignation or resolve: もう決まったことだから、やるしかない, "it's decided, so we just have to do it".

The polite form is しかありません. ほかない and よりほかない mean the same and are more formal.

Compare なければならない, which is obligation. しかない says the other options have run out.

Examples

  • 電車でんしゃが止とまっているから、歩あるいて帰かえるしかない。

    The trains aren't running, so I have no choice but to walk home.

  • もう決きまったことだから、やるしかない。

    It's already decided, so we just have to do it.

  • 誰だれも手伝てつだってくれないなら、自分じぶんでやるしかありません。

    If nobody will help, I'll just have to do it myself.

  • 間まに合あわないなら、あきらめるしかない。

    If we can't make it in time, we'll have to give up.

  • こうなったら、謝あやまるしかないよ。

    Now that it's come to this, all you can do is apologise.

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