Structure
Verb + だけ
[い]Adjective + だけ
[な]Adjective + な + 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 な when being used adjectivally.
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.
Basically this difference just highlights whether something is being discussed in a measurable way (an adjective), or an immeasurable way (a noun).
Synonyms
しか~ない
There's only, Nothing but
Not studied yet
だけしか
To emphasize '~only', Nothing but
Not studied yet
だけで
Just by, Just with
Not studied yet
だけでなく
Not only… but also
Not studied yet
ばかり
Just, Only, Nothing but
Not studied yet
きり
Only, Just, Since
Not studied yet
のみならず
Not only...but, Not just...but, What is more
Not studied yet
Examples
一人だけです。
Only one person.
それだけです。
Only that.
サッカーだけが好き。
I only like soccer.
This more naturally translates to 'Soccer is the only thing I like'.
私だけ行きます。
Only I am going.
その映画は長いだけ。
That movie is just long.
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Online
The Particle だけ
Imabi
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 (16 in total)
Pablunpro
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
cheesegyudonman
Hello,
What would be the difference between the two sentences:
彼女は綺麗なだけ
彼女は綺麗だけThank You
Pablunpro
Hi!
I take this chance to reiterate this request, i.e. to add のみ as a fun fact to this grammar point. In fact, のみ appears indirectly in this grammar point: のみならず.
Thank you very much for your consideration.
よい週末を
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