Grammar Info

N5 Lesson 7: 1/13

だけ

Only, Just

Structure

Verb + だけ
[い]Adjective + だけ
[な]Adjective + + だけ
Noun + だけ

Details

  • Part of Speech

    Particle

  • Word Type

    Adverbial Particle

  • Register

    Standard

  • 品詞

    助詞

  • 単語の種類

    副助詞

  • 使用域

    一般

About だけ

だけ is used in Japanese in a similar way to 'only' or 'just' in English. The basic meaning of this word is that 'while there are/were several possibilities, only (A) is true/was chosen'. だけ is used by attaching it to the base (dictionary) form of any word, except for な-Adjectives, which require when being used adjectivally.
  • 今夜(こんや)()だけ(なに)()まない
    Tonight I'm only going to eat, I won't drink anything.
  • (わたし)ブロッコリーだけきらい
    I only dislike broccoli.
  • あの(ひと)有名(ゆうめい)だけ
    That person is just famous. (Fame is all they have)
  • このスープ(から)だけ
    This soup is just spicy.
Due to な-Adjectives being able to be used as either a noun or an adjective, the meaning of a sentence will be different depending on whether だけ is used with the noun form, or the adjective form.
  • (わたし)彼女(かのじょ)綺麗(きれい)だけです
    My girlfriend is just beautiful. (There are no other distinguishing features)
  • 富士山綺麗(きれい)だけじゃない
    As for Mt. Fuji, beauty is not all there is. (There are other distinguishing features)
Basically this difference just highlights whether something is being discussed in a measurable way (an adjective), or an immeasurable way (a noun).

Examples

  • 一人(ひとり)だけです

    Only one person.

  • それだけです

    Only that.

  • サッカーだけ()

    I only like soccer.

    This more naturally translates to 'Soccer is the only thing I like'.

  • (わたし)だけ()きます

    Only I am going.

  • その映画(えいが)(なが)だけ

    That movie is just long.

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  • Offline

    • みんなの日本語 I

      Page 74 [CH 11]

    • [DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar

      Page 93

    • Marugoto Elementary 2 (A2) Rikai

      Page 91

    • Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide

      Page 244

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だけ – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (14 in total)

  • Johnathan-Weir

    Johnathan-Weir

    About 2 years ago

    I was just about to post this again lol.

  • Daigo

    Daigo

    About 2 years ago

    I came here with the same doubt.

  • Pablunpro

    Pablunpro

    About 3 months ago

    Hello,

    Whilst reading a short story, I came upon のみ as a literary version of だけ. Could this be added as a fun fact to this grammar point?

    Thank you very much for your consideration. よい週末を

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