Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 1: 10/18

だけでJust by, Just with

Structure

Verb + だけで
Noun + だけで

Details

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    Standard

About だけで

だけで is a combination of the adverbial particle だけ, and the case marking particleで. This expression is regularly thought of as meaning 'just by (A), (B)'. However, the literal translation is a bit closer to 'with only (A), (B)'. This reflects the で particle's standard usage of showing a 'tool' that is being used to achieve a certain result.

To use だけで, simply attach it to the end of any (non ます) form of verb, or noun.

Fun Fact

だけ differs from しか in one very important way. だけ highlights that there is/was more than one option, but that only one thing was chosen/used. However, しか implies that there is only one possible option to begin with.

Related

Examples

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    パーティーに行(い)くだけで楽(たの)しい。

    Just (by) going to a party is fun.

    顔(かお)を見(み)ただけで、彼(かれ)はいい人(ひと)だと分(わ)かった。

    I could tell he was a good person just by his face.

    一緒(いっしょ)に時間(じかん)を過(す)ごすだけで、仲良(なかよ)くなりました。

    We became good friends just by spending time together.

    彼(かれ)を見(み)ただけで性格(せいかく)が悪(わる)いと分(わ)かった。

    Just by looking at him I determined that he had a bad personality.

    家族(かぞく)と一緒(いっしょ)に居(い)るだけで、幸(しあわ)せ。

    Just by being with my family I am happy.

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