Japanese grammar
What does ～しか～ない mean? Japanese grammar N4
～しか～ない means only ~ (implying it's not enough).
| Level (estimated, JLPT framework) | N4 |
|---|---|
| Structure | N しか + V (negative) N しか + Adj/N + じゃない |
| Romaji | ~ shika ~ nai |
| Meaning | only ~ (implying it's not enough) |
Forming it
| Noun | N + しか ... ません／ない |
|---|---|
| Quantity | 数量 + しか ... ません／ない |
| After the dictionary form of a verb | V(る) + しかない (there's no choice but to ~) |
How to use it
Emphasizing that there is nothing else besides that, carrying a sense of regret or insufficiency.
- しか MUST be followed by a NEGATIVE ending — this is a fixed rule with no exceptions. 千円しかありません (I only have a thousand yen). The Japanese sentence is negative but the Vietnamese meaning is affirmative ("only have"), so Vietnamese speakers very often forget to use the negative form.
- しか ABSORBS the particles は・が・を: 「水しか飲みません」, not 「水をしか飲みません」. But に・で・から are KEPT and come before しか: 「ここにしかありません」(only available here).
- The core difference from だけ is in NUANCE, not meaning: しか always carries a NEGATIVE feeling — too little, not enough, regrettable. だけ is neutral, just stating a fact. Compare: 「五百円だけあります」(I have 500 yen — neutral) vs 「五百円しかありません」(I only have 500 yen — not enough, worried).
- Because of its negative nuance, しか is not used to brag: saying 「日本語だけできます」 sounds neutral, while 「日本語しかできません」 is putting yourself down (I can only speak Japanese).
Examples
財布に五百円しかありません。
I only have five hundred yen in my wallet.
このケーキは一つしか残っていません。
Only one piece of this cake is left.
電車がありませんから、歩いて帰るしかありません。
There are no trains, so I have no choice but to walk home.
Keep in mind
- V (dictionary form) + しかない = "there's no choice but to ~": 歩いて帰るしかありません (there's no choice but to walk home).
- To emphasize even further, combine だけしか～ない — the regretful nuance becomes even stronger.
Common mistakes
-
Wrong千円しかあります。
I only have one thousand yen.
Correct千円しかありません。
しか MUST be followed by a negative ending. The Vietnamese meaning is "only have" (affirmative), so Vietnamese speakers often forget to conjugate ません.
-
Wrong水をしか飲みません。
I only drink water.
Correct水しか飲みません。
しか absorbs the particle を (and also は・が) — don't write を before しか.
-
Wrong三つの言葉がしかできません。
I can actually speak as many as three languages.
Correct三つの言葉ができます。
しか carries the nuance of "too little, not enough", so it isn't used when you want to say something positive; besides, が is also absorbed by しか.
Exam tips
- The #1 trap: the exam gives 「～しか」 and asks for the sentence ending — always choose the NEGATIVE answer.
- Questions distinguishing だけ/しか often plant emotional keywords (残念・困る) → if there's a feeling of regret, choose しか.