Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 5: 16/20

(Number) + しか〜ないNo more than, Not exceeding, As few as・as little as, Only

Structure

Number + しか + Verb［ない］

Details

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About Number + しか〜ない

The adverbial particle しか is often compared to だけ, in that it also expresses 'only'. However, unlike だけ, しか can only be used in negative statements. Due to this, しか～ない is regularly translated as 'there's only (A)', or 'there's nothing but (A)'. しか～ない may be used to express numbers, or nouns. In this lesson we will examine numbers.

To use this construction, the number that you want to express as being 'all that exists' will go before しか, then しか will be followed by a verb in its ない, or ありません form.

Fun Fact

The main difference between しか and だけ, is that だけ suggests that (A) was 'chosen' from among a group where several other choices exist. しか on the other hand, implies that there are no other choices, and (A) is the only possibility/thing that exists.

  • 冷蔵庫(れいぞうこ)の中(なか)には色々(いろいろ)な物(もの)が入(はい)っていたけど、リンゴだけを取(と)り出(だ)した。
    There were a lot of things in the refrigerator, but I just took out an apple.
  • 冷蔵庫(れいぞうこ)の中(なか)にはリンゴしかなかったから、リンゴを食(た)べた。
    Apples were all that was in the refrigerator, so I ate an apple.

Examples

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    彼女(かのじょ)にはまだ１回(いっかい)しか会(あ)っていない。

    I have met her no more than once.

    計画書(けいかくしょ)は１枚(いちまい)しか提出(ていしゅつ)出来(でき)ない。

    You can submit only one plan.

    髪(かみ)の毛(け)が３本(さんぼん)しか生(は)えていない。

    He has no more than three hairs on his head.

    一(いっ)ヶ月(かげつ)しか期間(きかん)がないのに、あなたは変(か)われるの？

    You only have (the period of) one month. Can you change?

    彼(かれ)には１度(いちど)しか勝(か)っていない。

    He has won no more than once.

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      Number + しか〜ない – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (2 in total)

      • max99x

        max99x

        In this sentence:

        • 2回しか経験していないのに，自信満々だね。
          (You) have experienced (it) no more than twice, and yet (you) are brimming with confidence.

        Why is 経験する in the progressive form? The English translation to me suggests past.

      • Pushindawood

        Pushindawood

        @max99x Hey! ていない is often used to describe events or actions that did not happen/take place in the past. This is especially true for events/actions that occurred recently. Here is a great breakdown of the difference between ていません and ませんでした. Cheers!

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