Grammar Info

N1 Lesson 10: 14/22

ただ〜のみ

Nothing but, Should, Have to, Only, All that remains,

Structure

(ただ) + Verb[る]+ のみ + ((1))
(ただ) + [する]Verb + ある(2) + のみ + ((1))


(1) である
(2) する

Details

  • Register

    Formal

  • 使用域

    硬い

About ただ〜のみ

ただ~のみ is an expression that is commonly interpreted as ‘(A) is all that is required’, or ‘(A) is all that remains’. It is a combination of the neologism ただ ‘merely’, and the adverbial particle のみ ‘just’ or ‘only’. のみ itself has the same meanings and uses as both だけ and ばかり, but is slightly more formal.
Frequently, (A) will be a verb that indicates movement, continuation, or hope. This highlights that one has already done everything that is possible, and all that is left to do is hope for a good result, or that one is already doing all that is necessary, and all that remains is to continue.
  • (わたし)たちにはもう(なに)もできない。ただ医者(いしゃ)(しん)じて()のみだ
    There is nothing we can do anymore. What we can do is nothing but wait.
  • (ぼく)にできることはただ(いの)のみです
    I can do nothing but pray.
  • 将来(しょうらい)日本(にほん)大手(おおて)企業(きぎょう)(つと)めたいので、ただ勉強(べんきょう)あるのみだ
    Since I want to work in a big Japanese company in the future, I have no choice but to study.
When する-Verbs are used with this expression, occasionally it will be replaced by ある. This puts more focus on the existence of the action, rather than the action itself. The replacement of する with ある is primarily literary.

Examples

  • A:「どうやれば作家(さっか)になる(ゆめ)実現(じつげん)することができるのでしょう?」
    B:「やっぱりなにごとも練習(れんしゅう)あるのみだな。」

    A: 'How can I achieve my dream of becoming a writer?'
    B: 'In the end, It all rests on practice.'

  • (わたし)できることあなた成功(せいこう)できるようただ(いの)のみです。」

    'What I can do is nothing but to simply pray for your success.'

  • できるだけことあとは降伏(こうふく)するのみだ。」

    'We have done all we can. All that remains is to surrender.'

  • 人生(じんせい)後悔(こうかい)する(ひま)なんてありませんただ前進(ぜんしん)あるのみです

    There is no time for something like regrets in life. We have only to move forward.

  • テスト()(あと)ただ結果(けっか)()のみだ

    'After taking the test, it just rests on the wait for results.'

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