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しか〜ない

only, nothing but

Noun / amount + しか + negative

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しか means "only", but it always comes with a negative verb: 千円しかありません, "I only have 1,000 yen", literally "apart from 1,000 yen, there isn't any".

Compare だけ, which is neutral and goes with a positive verb. しか adds a feeling that it's not enough, or less than expected: 三時間しか寝なかった, "I only got three hours' sleep".

は, が and を disappear before しか; other particles stay in front: 日曜日にしか会えない, "I can only see them on Sundays".

A positive verb after しか is a mistake learners make for months. If the sentence ends in ます or だ, reach for だけ.

Examples

  • 財布さいふに千円せんえんしかありません。

    I've only got 1,000 yen in my wallet.

  • 日本語にほんごは少すこししか話はなせません。

    I can only speak a little Japanese.

  • 昨日きのうは三時間さんじかんしか寝ねませんでした。

    I only got three hours' sleep last night.

  • 教室きょうしつには学生がくせいが二人ふたりしかいない。

    There are only two students in the classroom.

  • 朝あさはコーヒーしか飲のみません。

    In the mornings I only drink coffee.

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