Structure
Noun + でしかない
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一般
About でしかない
でしかない is a construction comprised of the conjunctive form of だ, で, the particle しか, and the い-Adjective, ない. Like all other しか based structures, it is used to indicate that the target word is 'no more than (A)', or 'merely (A)'. The primary difference with でしかない compared to other similar grammar patterns is that it will only appear directly after nouns.
- それは言い訳でしかない。That is nothing but an excuse.
- 先輩は愛のムチだと言っているが、暴言でしかない。My senpai says that he is saying this out of love, but it's nothing more than abusive language.
- 息子にとっては宝物かもしれないが、私にとってはゴミでしかない。To my son, it is something precious, but to me it is nothing but garbage.
Synonyms
Examples
事故にあって、あなたが無事なら、心配いらない。車は車でしかないよ。
In an accident, if you are safe, there is nothing to worry about. A car is nothing but a car.
どんなに成長しても、親から見ると息子は子供でしかない。
No matter how much he grows up, the parents will always see their son as nothing more than a child.
彼女から秘密を教えてもらったが、ウソでしかなかった。
She shared some secrets with me, but they were nothing more than lies.
アイデアは悪くないが、机上の空論でしかない。
The idea is not bad, but it is merely academic gossip.
君の言うことはもっともだが、飽くまで理想でしかない。
What you are saying is plausible, but after all, it is merely an ideal.
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でしかない vs. にすぎない
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Grammatical justification for でしかない
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でしかない – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (4 in total)
Pushindawood
@Whologist Great question! Most Japanese will tell you that they are completely interchangeable in the majority of situations and would not be able to tell the difference if you swapped one out for the other. It really boils down to the nuances of both しかない and すぎない. すぎない expresses a bit more humility and is used when the speaker wishes to be more modest or is making an effort to raise the subject matter up on a pedestal. しかない usually carries with it a slightly more negative nuance, often expressing dissatisfaction with an outcome or with oneself. Here is a discussion of how Japanese perceive the two. Hope this helps. Cheers!
Whologist
Thank you so much!
dokidokiwakuwaku
What would the difference be between this point and だけしかない? Thank you!
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