💡 Switch to Hiragana only or Rōmaji if you're just starting out.
What is しか～ない?
しか〜ない is a pattern meaning “nothing but” or “only”. It emphasizes the limited amount. Critically, it always requires a negative verb after しか, even though the meaning itself is not negative.
しか marks the only thing that exists or is done.
The verb must be negative: ない, ありません, ません, なかった, etc.
It often replaces particles like が or を (e.g., 水がある → 水しかない).
必ず否定形と一緒に使います。かならずひていけいといっしょにつかいます。Kanarazu hiteikei to issho ni tsukaimasu.
How to Pronounce
しか： shi ka
百円しかない / 水しかありません / 一つしか残ってない
Examples & Mini Dialogue
水しかありません。みずしかありません。Mizu shika arimasen. There is nothing but water. (noun + しか + negative)
Note the negative ありません despite the "only" meaning.
少ししか食べませんでした。すこししかたべませんでした。Sukoshi shika tabemasen deshita. I ate only a little. (quantity + しか + negative past)
Again, the verb is past negative: ませんでした.
一度しか会ったことがない。いちどしかあったことがない。Ichido shika atta koto ga nai. I have met him only once. (frequency + しか + ない)
Common pattern: [amount] + しか + 〜ことがない.
🗣️ Mini Dialogue
A: お金、まだありますか？おかね、まだありますか？Okane, mada arimasu ka?
B: 百円しかありません。ひゃくえんしかありません。Hyaku-en shika arimasen.
When to Use in Real Japan
Expressing scarcity: 時間が少ししかない。
Complaining about lack: 給料がこれしかない。
Stating rare occurrences: 一度しか日本に行ったことがない。
⚡ しか〜ない vs だけ: The Classic N5 Comparison
Both mean "only", but しか always takes a negative verb, while だけ takes a positive verb. The emphasis also differs slightly.
Pattern
Verb
Nuance
Example
だけ
Positive
Neutral "only"
100円だけある
しか〜ない
Negative
Emphasizes lack/scarcity
100円しかない
⚠️ JLPT Trap: しか〜ない often sounds more emotional or emphatic about the small amount. If the verb is positive, you must never use しか.
This lesson is taught by Anup Sensei, an experienced Japanese language instructor at Gogaku Language & Training Center in Pokhara. He has studied and worked in Japan and specializes in practical JLPT preparation and real-life communication skills.
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